Home / Science / Pink Moon Rises with Artemis II Launch Window
Pink Moon Rises with Artemis II Launch Window
1 Apr
Summary
- April's full pink moon peaks Wednesday night.
- The moon's name honors the native moss pink wildflower.
- Artemis II mission to the moon has an early April launch window.
April's full moon, often called the 'pink moon,' will reach its peak illumination on Wednesday night. Despite its name, the moon will appear its typical silvery-gray. This lunar event is uniquely named after the blooming of the native North American wildflower, moss pink, which typically flowers around this time.
The full pink moon also signifies the opening of the launch window for NASA's Artemis II mission. This historic endeavor marks the first human journey to the moon's vicinity in over five decades, with four astronauts set to venture further into deep space than any humans before.
The Artemis II launch period spans from April 1 to April 6. This mission, alongside upcoming meteor showers like the Lyrids in late April and Eta Aquariids in May, offers sky-gazers numerous celestial events to observe in the coming weeks. May will also feature two full moons, including a 'blue moon' on May 31.
