Pink Moon: Exact time to see April's full moon and giant star this weekend

The Pink Moon will be visible this weekend, meaning people across the UK will be able to catch a glimpse of April’s first full . Those who catch a glimpse may notice it being slightly slimmer and dimmer than the typical full moon – this is because the Pink Moon is a ‘micromoon’ and is the smallest moon of the year.

But as well as witnessing spring’s first full moon, stargazers are in for a treat as the Pink Moon will be visible alongside a bright star called Spica. The blue-white star is part of the constellation and emits around 20,500 times more light than the sun. Here’s everything you need to know…

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How can I see the Pink Moon?

On April 13, the full moon will rise in the east-southeast at around 9pm in the UK. For those wanting the best view of the moon, heading to a place with as little light pollution as possible is best. Although having a clear view of the horizon is ideal, if you wait longer you may be able to catch a glimpse of the Pink Moon.

“It will be easier to spot later in the night as the moon heads southeast and then south, climbing higher in the sky as it does so,” Catherine Muller, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told .

What makes it a Pink Moon?

While the name may suggest it being pink in colour, the Pink Moon isn’t actually pink. In reality it will appear the same colour as a usual full moon.

Every month, . The Pink Moon gets its name from an early blooming wildflower that grows in the US and has pink flowers. In other cultures, what’s referred to as the Pink Moon may be called the sprouting grass moon, the egg moon, and the fish moon.

What is a micromoon?

It may not be something you notice, but the Pink Moon will be slightly smaller and dimmer than other full moons. This is because it’s a micromoon – something which occurs when the moon is at its furthest from the earth.

“This full Moon will be a micromoon and will appear smaller and dimmer than an average full Moon due to being at its farthest point from Earth at that time,” NASA's Johnson Space Center explained in a tweet on X.

Meanwhile, Jake Foster, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told : “You might notice that the Moon looks smaller than usual, it will appear about 7 per cent smaller than its average size, and 15 per cent dimmer as well.”

He added: “A smaller, fainter Moon might not sound as exciting as a , but they are both a lovely quirk of the mechanics of our solar system.”

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