See rare blood moon creep over skyline in timelapse video
Timelapse footage captured a blood moon, or total lunar eclipse, over California.
- April’s full moon, known as the pink moon, will reach its peak on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
- This full moon is also the Paschal Moon, which helps determine the date of Easter.
- Cloudy and rainy weather is forecast for parts of Ohio, which may obstruct viewing.
Looking forward to the April full moon? Well, you won’t have to wait long to see it as it’s on the way. Here’s when to look for it and what to know about it.
When is the full moon in April 2026? When to watch for the pink moon
The pink moon, April’s full moon, will reach peak illumination on April Fool’s Day, Wednesday, April 1, according to Space.com. Its peak viewing time will be around 10:12 p.m. ET.
What’s the Ohio weather forecast for April’s full moon?
What’s the weather forecast for Ohio’s major cities during the April full moon? It may be a rainy night with potential cloud cover, which may obscure full moon viewing.
Here’s the weather forecast for Wednesday night from the National Weather Service (as of March 30):
- Akron will be mostly cloudy, with a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms in the forecast in the evening, according to the NWS forecast. Temperatures will reach a low of 46 degrees.
- Cincinnati will have a mostly cloudy night with a 60% chance of showers before 2 a.m., with an overnight low of 60 on Wednesday night, per NWS.
- Columbus will see mostly cloudy skies during the full moon on Wednesday night, with a 60% chance of precipitation. Temperatures will be a low of 55.
What phase of the lunar cycle is the moon in now?
As of March 30, the moon is 11 days old and is currently in its waxing crescent phase at 93% illumination, according to Space.com.
The moon’s phases in April are:
- 🌕 Full moon: April 1
- 🌗 Last quarter: April 10
- 🌑 New moon: April 17
- 🌓 First quarter: April 23
How did the pink moon get its name?
You might assume the April full moon is called the pink moon because it appears to have a rosy color, but that’s not the case.
The nickname of the April full moon comes from the early spring blooming of a wildflower native to eastern North America — phlox subulata, commonly known as creeping phlox or moss phlox.
Phlox subulata, often called moss pink, is often in full bloom around April’s full moon.
What is the Paschal Moon? Its role in determining Easter date
Easter falls on April 5 in 2026. April’s full moon is also special due to its religious significance.
The first full moon of spring is also known as the Paschal Moon or Passover Moon, which determines the date of Easter. This year the pink moon will rise just days ahead of Easter Sunday.
Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, the first full moon following the spring equinox. In the Gregorian calendar, it is always observed on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25.
Ohio dark sky locations for astronomy, full moon viewing
Of the 159 locations in the United States that are designated dark sky communities (those having little to no light pollution to interfere with astronomy), two are in Ohio:
Other dark sky destinations around Ohio, according to Ohio Magazine, include:
- Burr Oak State Park: The nearest village is four miles away and has a population of less than 2,000, so it produces little light pollution.
- Stonelick State Park: The night skies here are some of the darkest in Ohio, according to the magazine, and it’s a common destination for Cincinnati-area stargazers.
- Wayne National Forest: Per the magazine, the isolated Lamping Homestead Recreation Area is arguably the darkest site in Ohio’s only national forest.
When is May’s full moon?
May will have two full moons.
One will be at the beginning of the month on May 1, called the flower moon. The other, the blue moon, rises at the end of the month on May 31, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
