April full pink moon: When to see spring phenomenon in the UK night sky
Here’s when you can see the April full pink moon in the UK night sky this week.
Stargazers are set to be on the lookout for a full, pink moon this month. Experts have revealed when the phenomenon will be at its peak for UK sky watchers - clear skies allowing.
However, they have also warned the pink moon may not be very vivid, as it's actually named after a US flower that blooms around the same time - but could look orange as it rises thanks to particles in the atmosphere.
The bright full moon will peak in the UK at 3.12am on Thursday (April 2), according to space experts, and also marks an important religious time, for it sets the dates for Easter and Passover.
Around the globe, the April full moon is known as the Egg Moon, and as the Sprouting Grass Moon, due to it signifying the beginning of spring. Elsewhere, it is known as the full Fish Moon, referencing when shad fish come upstream to spawn, while others know it as the Breaking Ice Moon, bringing in warmer weather.
In ancient times, the changing phases of the Moon were used to mark the seasons, and many still remain today, including the Harvest and Flower Moons.
But for those hoping to see the moon on Wednesday night into Thursday, clear skies may be hard to find, as weather experts are forecasting some cloud cover, with the clearest skies in Scotland and Northern Ireland.