April full moon 2026: When, where and how to see the Pink Moon

The April full moon will occur at 10:12 p.m. EDT on April 1 (0311 BST on April 2), as the lunar disk sits opposite the sun in Earth's sky, fully lit by its rays.

April's full moon is often called the "Pink Moon", in reference to the lavender-pink bloom of the ground-covering perennial plant phlox, which blooms around this time of year in parts of the U.S.

When to see the April full moon

Gaze east at sunset on April 1 to witness the fully-lit disk of the Pink Moon climb slowly over the spring horizon. The surface of Earth's natural satellite will likely adopt a yellow-orange hue while close to the horizon at moonrise (and moonset), as light reflected from its surface is scattered and filtered during a prolonged journey through our planet's atmosphere.

The April full moon is not a supermoon, though it will appear particularly large while close to the horizon thanks to a phenomenon known as the moon illusion, wherein our brain tricks us into thinking that it is larger while close to the ground as opposed to when it is overhead. Try to find a viewing spot with a clear view to the east and wrap up warm, spring may be here but the evenings still hold a little of that winter chill!

Full moon timings for when the moon is 100% lit by direct sunlight (note local moonrise and moonset times will vary depending on your location):

Why is it called the Pink Moon

April's full moon is often referred to as the Pink Moon to reflect the color of phlox wildflowers that bloom in North America during the early spring, according to Time and Date. It has also been called the budding moon, or new seeds moon by the Celts in Europe.

The North American Dakota tribe, meanwhile, referred to it as the Moon When the Streams are Again Navigable, while the Algonquin people call it the Breaking Ice Moon, per the Old Farmer's Almanac. For those of the Christian faith, the April full moon is known as the Paschal Moon, which marks the first full moon after the spring equinox.

Cultural traditions and festivals

The April full moon coincides with the Jewish celebration of Passover, which marks the freedom of the people from slavery and their flight from Egypt described in the book of Exodus. On the first night, families gather to observe a ritual meal known as the seder and eat only unleavened bread, in part to represent the haste with which they were forced to leave Egypt.

For Sri Lankan Buddhists, the April full moon is Bak Poya day, a time when worshipers celebrate Buddha's second visit to the country, when he made peace between feuding members of the Naga people. To those of the Hindu faith, it marks the celebration of Chaitra Purnima, the first full moon of the Hindu lunar year, which is a time of renewal when negative karma can be lifted.

Christians, meanwhile, know it as the Paschal moon — the first full moon after the ecclesiastical vernal equinox (March 21). The moon is named for the Latin word for passover, "paschal," and is used to set the date of the Easter celebration, which will occur on April 5 in 2026, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion by the Romans.

The auspicious full moon also happens to fall on April Fool's Day — when everyone from parents, professors and politicians to media outlets and politicians play well-meaning pranks on one another. The origins of April Fool's Day are uncertain, though some historians link it to calendar reforms in Europe during the 16th Century, when the shift from the pre-Gregorian calendar to the Gregorian calendar moved the beginning of the year from late March to January, making those slow to adopt the change look like "fools", according to JSTOR Daily.

What else to see in the sky around the full moon

Look to the east at sunset on April 1 to see the fully lit disk of the Pink Moon climb lazily over the horizon, as the glow of our setting sun gives way to the coming night in the west. To its left will shine the stars of the constellation Virgo, with its brightest member, blue-white Spica, glowing approximately 10 degrees to its lower left (roughly the width of your clenched first held at arm's length).

The bright star to the east of Virgo is the red giant Arcturus, whose name means "guardian of the bear" in Latin, in reference to the constellation Ursa Major (The Great Bear), whose iconic Big Dipper formation of stars can be found shining brightly to its upper left. Follow a line up from the moon to find the questionmark- like formation of stars that represent the head of the lion in the constellation Leo, with bright Regulus forming the point at the bottom.

The brightest "star" in the night sky will in reality, be the steady light of Jupiter, which will shine high overhead in the southwestern sky on April 1, with the bright stars Castor and Pollux of the constellation Gemini glowing above. Below are the familiar stars of the constellation Orion (belt, Betelgeuse and all), while to its left will shine Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.

Tear your eyes away from the moon and look to the west at sunset for a chance to spot Venus hugging the horizon. The inner planet will swiftly disappear out of sight less than an hour after sunset, so try to find a spot with a clear line of sight to the western horizon to maximise your viewing time!

Observing tips

The nights surrounding the full moon phase are a perfect opportunity to set sail (metaphorically) to learn the names and locations of the lunar seas that scar Earth's natural satellite, marking locations where liquid lava once moved freely across its surface. The full moon is the brightest object in the night sky and while staring at it — even through a telescope — will pose no risk to your vision, it may be more comfortable to view with the help of a moon filter to reduce unwanted glare.

You can also make use of a DSLR camera and telephoto lens —or a modern smartphone camera — to capture gorgeous images of the full moon. The following tips will help, but for the best results, you should read our expert guide to imaging the moon, along with our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography if you want to upgrade your equipment.

Top tips to photograph the moon

• Use a tripod to keep your camera as steady as possible.
• Use a remote shutter/timer to prevent camera wobble.
• A smartphone stargazing app can help you find the exact point of moonrise on your local horizon.
• A lens with a focal length of 12-50 mm is useful for landscape photography, while a focal length of at least 400 mm is advised for capturing more detailed views of the lunar surface.
• The moon can be made to appear particularly large while close to the horizon next to foreground objects, where it may take on an orange-yellow appearance thanks to Rayleigh scattering. A cleaner, more "classic" view can be captured as it soars high overhead.

The full moon makes for a spectacular photography target, but lacks the shadows of the surrounding moon phases. Why not try and capture an image of the moon during each major phase (excluding the new moon) to better understand how its aspect changes time?

These times mark the exact instant of full illumination. Your own moonrise or moonset may be hours earlier or later, depending on your location. For the best viewing plan, use an app such as Stellarium or SkySafari 7 Pro to find your local moonrise time.

Editor's Note: Did you capture a beautiful picture of the moon and want to share it with Space.com's readers? Then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.