On Saturday, April 12, the sky will be lit up by the "Pink Moon," or a micromoon, which is the first full moon of spring. This lunar phenomenon happens when the moon is at its most distant point from Earth, so it will look smaller and less bright than a supermoon.
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Appearance: Ironically, the Pink Moon does not look pink; it gets its name from the early spring display of wildflowers such as Phlox subulata.
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Visibility: The moon will be brightest at 8:22 p.m. EDT on April 12 and remain visible all night.
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Micromoon Features: It will seem around 14% smaller and 30% less bright compared to a supermoon because it is farther from Earth.
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Cultural Significance: In India, this full moon is aligned with the Hanuman Jayanti festival, while in other societies, it also has the designations of the Sprouting Grass Moon or Fish Moon.
The Pink Moon presents a rare opportunity to see the subtle changes in size and luminosity of the moon, so it is of particular interest for astronomers.
Sources: USA Today, Hindustan Times, Space.com