Don’t Miss the Stunning ‘Pink Moon’ This Friday

So you missed the “Super Blood Wolf Moon” back in January. And the supermoon in March. There won’t be another total lunar eclipse until May 2021, but don’t give up just yet: Friday, you can catch a Pink Moon. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, this year’s Full Pink Moon will reach peak fullness at 4:12 a.m. PST on Friday.

Despite what the name suggests, the Pink Moon is not actually pink. It is simply the nickname that was given to April’s full moon by Native Americans back when seasons were tracked by the lunar calendar. The “Pink Moon” refers to pink ground phlox, or “moss pink,” an early spring flower. Other nicknames for this Good Friday full moon include the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon.

While it might not glow an Instagram-worthy pastel pink, the moon may instead appear yellow, orange, or red depending on atmospheric conditions, according to AccuWeather.

To get the best possible view, pick a hill or a skyscraper with a high, clear view, and look west at moonset in the early morning of Friday, or east at moonrise later that day. In San Francisco, moonset is at 6:58 a.m. on Friday and moonrise is at 8:21 p.m.