April’s full ‘pink’ moon to peak this week during Lyrids meteor shower
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — April’s full moon, known as the “pink moon,” will be lighting up the spring night sky this week. But not only will the full moon illuminate the skies the week of Earth Day, several of our closest planets and the April Lyrids meteor shower will be visible alongside the moon.
Following the April 8 total solar eclipse, the moon is once again the star of the show as it peaks this week.
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The April full moon peaks Tuesday, April 23, at 7:49 p.m. EDT. The moon will appear full for about three days, from Monday morning (which is Earth Day) to Thursday morning.
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The pink moon is named after the herb moss pink, a plant native to the eastern U.S. and one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring, according to NASA. Other names for this moon include the Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon, the Pesach or Passover Moon, the Hanuman Jayanti Festival Moon, and Bak Poya.
Planets visible alongside April’s full moon
On Tuesday evening, while the moon is at its fullest, Jupiter will be visible just above the west-northwestern horizon, and will remain visible to the naked eye through April 29, NASA says.
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Tuesday morning, Mars and Saturn will be visible just above the eastern horizon. Mercury will rise 22 minutes after morning twilight begins and will be faint, making it difficult to see in the glow of dawn.
Lyrids meteor shower
Since the moon will be full and bright this week, it is expected to outshine the annual Lyrids meteor shower, which peaks April 21-22.
Because of the light from the full moon, only a few of the brightest shooting stars will be visible per hour this year, NASA says.
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The Lyrids are known for their fast and bright meteors, with around 10-20 generally visible per hour. While some years can have heavier showers with up to 100 meteors per hour, this year is not expected to be as visible.
Those looking upward can expect dawn to be the best viewing time to catch the meteor shower when the moon is at its lowest.
The Lyrids meteor shower is one of the oldest known meteor showers, having been observed for 2,700 years.
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NASA says meteors come from leftover comet particles and bits from broken asteroids. The pieces of space debris that interact with our atmosphere that create the Lyrids originate from comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, discovered in 1861.
The next full moon will peak on Thursday, May 23.
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