The first full Moon of spring is happening this month, on Saturday, April 16. This one has deep religious significance in cultures across the world and it is commonly referred to as a Pink Moon. But unless you’re watching the world with rose-tinted glasses, the Moon will not appear much different from its usual hue.
The name is due to US influence and comes from the Maine Farmer's Almanac. In the 1930s, the Almanac published the Native American names of each full Moon of the year. The pink in "Pink Moon" refers to phlox subulata, a flowering pink plant known to bloom in this period. But Native American tribes are not a single culture, and in fact, this Moon has also been referred to as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and even the Fish Moon.
In Judaism, it's known as the Pesach Moon, marking the celebration of Pesach (Passover). And for Christians, this is the Paschal Moon, the first full Moon before Easter. For Hindus, this is the Hanuman Jayanti celebrating the birth of Lord Hanuman, and in Sri Lanka, this full Moon marks Bak Poya, Lord Buddha's visit to Nagadipa.
But don’t be disappointed if you wanted a color-changing Moon. That’s going to happen next month.
The night between May 15 and 16 there’s going to be a total lunar eclipse, known as a "blood moon". The Moon will be shadowed by our planet, and due to sunlight filtering through the Earth’s atmosphere, it will appear red. The eclipse will be fully visible from half of North America, most of central, and all of South America. Part of Western Africa and Antarctica will also catch the spectacle before dawn.
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