When is the next full moon? Date of pink full moon in April 2022 - and meaning explained

On Saturday (16 April) a pink full moon will grace the skies as an Easter treat for stargazers

April’s full moon is the first of the spring season and this is signified by being called the pink moon.

It has particular significance in helping to decide the dates of Easter.

Easter Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox on 20 March.

This month’s full moon will land on Saturday 16 April, making Easter occur on Sunday 17.

When is the April full moon?

The next full moon will be on Saturday afternoon, 16 April.

The Moon will appear full for about three days from early Friday morning through to early Monday morning.

When to see the ‘Pink Moon’ rising

The best time to see the full moon rise on Saturday will be after sunset.

The moon won’t be visible above the horizon until after the sun has set.

In the UK the best time to see the moon rise will be after sunset at around 7:57pm.

Why is April’s full moon called the ‘Pink Moon?’

Unfortunately, the pink full moon will not actually shine pink - it is called the Pink Moon after the herb moss pink, also known as creeping phlox, moss phlox or mountain phlox.

It is a plant native to eastern America and is one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring.

The names of full moons are linked to names used by various Native American tribes so they are centred around all things North-America.

What else is the April full moon called?

April’s full Moon is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Growing Moon, the Fish Moon, the Hare Moon, the Passover and the Paschal Moon.

In the UK, April’s full Moon is called the Egg Moon, due to the spring egg-laying season.

The Fish Moon name comes from coastal tribes as this was when fish swam upstream to spawn.

It is also known as the Pesach or Passover Moon because of the Jewish religious festival of Passover which begins at sundown on Friday 15 April and ends at nightfall on Saturday 23 April.

For Hindus, this full moon corresponds with Hanuman Jayanti, the celebration of the birth of Lord Hanuman.

For Buddhists, this full moon is Bak Poya, commemorating when the Buddha visited Sri Lanka and settled a dispute between chiefs, avoiding a war.

What does this full moon mean in terms of astrology?

The April Full Moon is in the bubbly air sign of Libra, ruled by the romantic planet Venus.

This full moon therefore illuminates themes of relationships, balance and social connection.

Libra is represented by the symbol of the scales, so its energy helps us to find a harmonious synergy between extremes.

When is the next full moon?

The next full Moon is the full ‘Flower Moon’ which will occur on Monday 16 May.

It will also be a “Blood Moon” total lunar eclipse.

On Sunday 15 May into Monday 16 the full Flower Moon will turn a reddish colour for approximately 84 minutes.