Get your cameras ready! The first full moon of spring will cast its glow across the sky on April 1, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect for us in Florida.
As the Pink Moon rolls into night skies, NASA’s Artemis II — the first crewed mission to the moon since the Apollo era — is looking to blast off from the Kennedy Space Center on that same night. If schedules hold, you might just be looking at a full moon that has four astronauts rocketing toward it!
Why is it called the Pink Moon?
Before you grab your telescopes expecting a cotton-candy-colored sky, you should know that the moon won’t actually turn pink. Its moniker comes from “moss pink,” a vibrant wildflower native to North America that blooms in early spring. Because it is the first full moon to occur after the spring equinox, it dictates the date of Western Easter, which will fall just a few days later on Sunday, April 5.
Instead of pink, expect a spectacular glowing golden or orange orb when the moon first peeks over the horizon!
When to catch April’s Pink Moon
For Floridians, this year’s moonrise brings a rare and incredibly cool combo: the Pink Moon and Artemis II launch are happening just a few hours apart! The moon will appear large and nearly full starting tonight, remaining that way through April 2. However, the Pink Moon will reach its peak illumination on Wednesday, April 1 at 10:11 p.m. ET.
If everything goes according to NASA’s current schedule, liftoff for Artemis II is targeted for no earlier than 6:24 p.m. ET on April 1. The 10-day trip will loop the crew around the Earth and moon, carrying them further into space than any human being before them.
According to NASA, the launch is expected to be visible across most of Florida and parts of Georgia:
Just find a spot with an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon and hope for clear skies!
