The first night of April will be lit up by the full pink moon, though the moon itself will not appear pink as it rises.
Peak illumination occurs at 10:11 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, offering skywatchers a bright start to the new month.
Despite its colorful name, the pink moon is tied to seasonal changes rather than its appearance. "This Moon heralded the appearance of the 'moss pink' (Phlox subulata), also called wild ground phlox or creeping phlox-one of the first spring wildflowers," the Old Farmer's Almanac explains.
The timing this year is perfect, with cherry blossoms at peak bloom turning the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., pink.
The full moon also carries different names across cultures. Anglo-Saxons referred to it as the Egg Moon, a nod to the spring season and themes of renewal that later became associated with Easter traditions.
