The full moon of April 2022 will occur this weekend. Every full moon, has its own nickname. Well, April's full moon is called the Pink Moon.
This naming is actually more popular in western countries and was popularized in recent decades by the Farmers' Almanac in the United States.
Like the names of other full moons, Pink Moon does not mean the Moon is pink when a full moon occurs. The name comes from the pink flowers that bloom in early spring in Western countries and illuminate the sky under the bright moonlight.
According to NASA, as quoted from Live Science, Thursday (14/4/2022) the Pink Moon will be visible for three days, from Saturday (16 April) to Monday morning (18 April).
"In other words, it's going to be a 'full moon weekend,'" said Gordon Johnston, program executive in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Meanwhile, according to Timeanddate.com, this full moon will occur on Sunday, April 17, 2022 in the early hours of the morning so that it accompanies those of you who are having sahur.
A full moon occurs about once a month when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up on an imaginary 180-degree line. The Moon's orbit is about 5 degrees different from Earth's, so it's usually slightly higher or lower than Earth's shadow, allowing sunlight to illuminate its near side, or side facing Earth.
Sometimes when the Moon is full, part or all of the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon, resulting in a lunar eclipse. April's Pink Moon will be a beautiful sight to behold.
While it won't actually appear pink as previously mentioned, in Western countries, this phenomenon coincides with the blooming season of moss pink, a plant native to the eastern US that blooms in early spring.
Other names for April's full moon include the Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon and Fish Moon, as these are historically recorded times when fish swim upstream to spawn, according to the Maine Farmer's Almanac.
This month is also known as Pesach or Easter Month, because it coincides with the celebration of Easter for Christians. Meanwhile, Hindus will celebrate Hanuman Jayanti, which commemorates the birth of Lord Hanuman.
For Buddhists, especially in Sri Lanka, this full moon marks Bak Poya, a historic day when the Buddha visited Sri Lanka and prevented war by resolving disputes between tribal chiefs. This day is also designated as a national holiday in Sri Lanka.