Topline
The full pink moon — the fourth of 13 full moons in 2026 — will turn full on Wednesday, April. 1, 2026. Named for the pink phlox wildflowers that bloom at this time of year in North America — and because it will look pink in color — this full moon will rise during dusk and, one day after it’s full, shine close to a bright star as seen from North America.
Everything you need to know about April’s full pink moon — including exactly when it’s full and the best evening to see it rise in dramatic twilight. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Key Facts
The moon will be officially full at 10:13 p.m. EDT and 7:13 p.m. PDT on Wednesday (April 1) and will be best seen appearing in the east at the time of moonrise where you are. The moon will also appear bright and full on Feb. 2.
A full moon always looks its best when it first appears above the eastern horizon during dusk. The sight is at its most dramatic when the moon appears very close to sunset, rising into fading daylight during “blue hour” to provide dramatic contrast. That’s exactly what happens this month in North America.
On the west coast, a very rare sync occurs, with 7:13 p.m. PDT being the exact moment of full moon, sunset, and moonrise, according to sunrisesunset.com.
Almanac reports that Native American names for February’s full moon include Breaking Ice Moon, Frog Moon and Sucker Moon.
The day after the full moon, on April 2, the moon will shine less than two degrees from Spica, the 16th brightest star in the night sky.
Best Time To See The Full ‘pink Moon’ Rise
To see the full pink moon at its best, find an elevated location, an open field or an east-facing coastline with a clear view of the eastern horizon. To find the best time to see it appear from where you are, consult a moonrise calculator. Here are some sample times :
- New York: sunset at 7:20 p.m. EDT, moonrise at 7:15 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 1.
- Los Angeles: sunset at 7:13 p.m. PDT, moonrise at 7:13 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, April 1.
‘pink Moon’ And Easter Sunday
This year, April’s pink moon is also called the paschal moon — paschal meaning Easter. That’s because in the Western Christian tradition, Easter Sunday is always held on the Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. The spring equinox was on March 20 this year, and although the church uses a fixed date (March 21), the pink moon is the decisive factor. This year, Easter Sunday must fall on April 5.
How To Star-Hop To Spica And The ‘pink Moon’
Spica, which will be close to the pink moon this year, can be easily found in spring and summer in the Northern Hemisphere using a popular star-hop. As the pink moon rises and it gets dark, look to the northeast for the Big Dipper, which will be standing on its handle. Trace that handle — a curved line of stars — to go “Arc to Arcturus, ” arriving at the next bright star in the night sky, low in the east. From bright Arcturus, “speed on to Spica,” darting along the horizon to the bright star just below the pink moon.
Full Moon May 2026: When To See The ‘flower Moon’ And ‘blue Moon’
The pink moon is the fourth of 13 full moons in 2026. A solar year is 365.24 days, while a lunar year is around 354.37 days, so sometimes there are 13 full moons in one calendar (solar) year. The 13 full moons in 2026 have so far included a “blood moon” total lunar eclipse in March, and will include a “blue moon” in May and supermoons in November and December, the latter on Christmas Eve.
The next full moon — the flower moon — arrives on May 1. A second full moon will follow it in the same calendar month, when a full moon also rises on May 31 — a blue moon.
Further Reading
