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April's Pink Moon Peaks Wednesday Night as Artemis II Window Opens

The timing overlaps NASA’s Artemis II launch window, creating a rare chance to see a launch beside a bright full moon.

Overview

  • The full phase, which peaks Wednesday at about 10:12–10:13 p.m. EDT per the U.S. Naval Observatory, falls inside NASA’s April 1–6 Artemis II launch window.
  • Best views come at moonrise near the eastern horizon, with the disc appearing full from Tuesday through Thursday; sample moonrise times include New York about 7:15 p.m. EDT and Los Angeles about 7:13 p.m. PDT.
  • Despite the springtime nickname, the Moon will not look pink and it is not a supermoon, and low-horizon views may glow orange as Earth’s air scatters blue light.
  • On Thursday, the Moon will sit within about two degrees of Spica, the bright star in Virgo, offering an easy pairing for skywatchers.
  • This April full moon is the Paschal Moon that sets Easter for Sunday, April 5, and it is the fourth of 13 full moons in 2026 with a Blue Moon due on May 31.