Pink Moon 2023: The first full Moon of spring is known as the Pink Moon. This year, the Pink Moon reached its peak at 12:35 am EDT (10:05 am IST) on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Since the Pink Moon has risen during daytime in India, people living in the country cannot witness the full Moon in the skies before sunset, but can enjoy the spectacle online.
While the Pink Moon peaked on Thursday, Earth's natural satellite will appear full through Friday. Hence, people living in India can view the Pink Moon in the skies on Thursday after sunset, and also on Friday evening.
Pink Moon 2023: How to watch it online
Several channels are streaming the Pink Moon live on YouTube. People can watch the event live on YouTube channels such as Astronomy Lovers Family and THEREALPAX.
One can also watch the Pink Moon live by clicking on the embedded videos below.
People can also spot the bright star Spica about eight degrees to the lower left of the Pink Moon, according to NASA.
Why is the first full Moon of spring called the Pink Moon?
The first full Moon of spring, which rises in the skies in April, is called the Pink Moon because the herb moss pink, a plant native to the eastern United States, is one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring, according to the Maine Farmers' Almanac. The annual American periodical began publishing "Indian" names for full Moons in the 1930s.
Interesting facts about Pink Moon
The Pink Moon is also called the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon, because this is when shad, or fish belonging to the herring family, swim upstream to spawn or deposit eggs.
The Jews call the Pink Moon the Pesach or Passover Moon. This year, the Jews will be celebrating Pesach or Passover till April 13, 2023.
The Christians call the full Moon the Paschal Moon. The date of Easter is calculated from the time of the appearance of the Paschal Moon.
In India, the appearance of the Pink Moon corresponds with the Hanuman Jayanti festival.
Buddhists call the Pink Moon Bak Poya, and on the day of the full Moon's appearance, commemorate when the Buddha visited Sri Lanka and helped avoid a war by settling a dispute between chiefs.
In the Islamic calendar, the Pink Moon appears sometime near the middle of the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is honoured as the month in which the Quran Sharif was revealed, and marks the annual month of charitable acts, prayer and fasting from dawn to sunset.