Why is a pink moon pink?

The Pink Moon: So, Why Isn’t It Actually Pink?

Okay, so every year we get all excited about the “Pink Moon” in April, right? The name makes you think of this gorgeous, rosy-colored moon hanging in the sky. But, spoiler alert: it’s usually not pink at all. So, what’s the deal? Why call it the Pink Moon if it’s, well, not?

Where Did That Name Even Come From?

Here’s the thing: the name “Pink Moon” has absolutely nothing to do with the color of the moon itself. Instead, we can thank Native American cultures for this one. Specifically, the Algonquin tribes, who were super in tune with nature, living here in the eastern United States. They named the full moons after things happening in the natural world around them. Makes sense, right?

April’s full moon just so happens to show up around the same time as the blooming of this adorable little wildflower called Phlox subulata – also known as creeping phlox or moss pink. Seriously, these plants are like a carpet of bright pink flowers that pop up everywhere in early spring. So, the Pink Moon is basically a shout-out to these spring blossoms, a symbol of new beginnings and all that good stuff. It’s like nature’s way of saying, “Hey, winter’s over!” You might also hear it called the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, or even the Fish Moon. Pretty cool, huh?

Apparently, The Maine Farmer’s Almanac started publishing these Native American moon names back in the 1930s, and that’s how “Pink Moon” really took off.

Okay, But Could It Ever Actually Look Pinkish?

Alright, so most of the time, the Pink Moon is just your regular yellowish-white moon. But sometimes – and I mean sometimes – it can actually have a bit of a pink or reddish tint. This all comes down to how light bounces around in Earth’s atmosphere.

• Rayleigh Scattering – Say What Now?: This is the same thing that makes the sky blue. Basically, when the moon’s hanging low on the horizon, its light has to travel through a lot more air to reach your eyes. All that air is full of tiny particles, and they scatter the shorter wavelengths of light (like blue and violet) all over the place. But the longer wavelengths, like red and orange? They’re tougher and can make it through more easily. That’s why you often see the moon looking orange or reddish when it’s just rising or setting.

• Atmospheric Shenanigans: If there’s extra stuff floating around in the air – like smoke from wildfires (we’ve had plenty of those lately, sadly), ash from a volcano, or even just plain old air pollution – it can make this effect even stronger. All those extra particles scatter the blue light even more, leaving the red and orange to dominate. And that, my friends, can give you a pinkish-looking moon.

• Lunar Eclipse Alert!: Now, during a lunar eclipse, when the Earth slides between the sun and the moon, things get really interesting. The Earth casts a shadow on the moon, but some sunlight still manages to sneak through by bending around the Earth’s atmosphere. And guess what? Because the atmosphere filters out most of the blue light, the moon can end up looking red or pink. That’s what they call a “Blood Moon.” Spooky, right?

That Weird “Moon Illusion”

Ever notice how the moon looks HUGE when it’s near the horizon? That’s a trick your eyes are playing on you, called the “moon illusion.” The atmosphere scatters the light, filtering blues and yellows and leaving visible oranges and reds.

More Than Just a Name: The Meaning Behind the Moon

The Pink Moon isn’t just about flowers, you know. It also has some deeper meaning in different cultures and religions. For Hindus, it’s Hanuman Jayanti, celebrating the birth of Lord Hanuman. Buddhists call it Bak Poya, and it marks a visit by the Buddha to Sri Lanka. And for Christians, it’s the Paschal Moon, which decides when Easter falls.

Hunting for a Pink Moon?

So, while seeing a truly pink moon is pretty rare, the April full moon is always worth checking out. If you want to up your chances of seeing a colorful moon, try watching it as it rises or sets. Get yourself to a spot where you can see the horizon clearly, and keep an eye on the weather. If there’s some extra stuff in the atmosphere, you might just get lucky!

Even if it’s not actually pink, the Pink Moon is a cool reminder that spring is here and a great excuse to look up at the night sky.