Tonight’s ‘Pink Moon’ Won’t Really Be Pink

'Pink Moon'  is the term used to describe the full moon appearing in the month of April. It could be pink if it catches the light just right, but more than likely will be big and yellow.

The full moon, which will be visible on the horizon this evening, weather permitting (although it is supposed to clear up) is also the first of two 'Supermoons' for 2021. Supermoons are said to be bigger and brighter than your average full moon, as much as 7 tp 15 percent bigger and brighter, mainly because of their angle to the horizon.

According to the Farmers Almanac, the Pink Moon is called that because late April is when blooms are on the trees, and the landscape in some areas is a shade of pink.

Although we wish this name had to do with the color of the Moon, the reality is not quite as mystical or awe-inspiring. In truth, April’s full Moon often corresponded with the early springtime blooms of a certain wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox subulata—commonly called creeping phlox or moss phlox—which also went by the name “moss pink.”

Thanks to this seasonal association, this full Moon came to be called the “Pink” Moon!

'Pink Moon' is much more romantic than other native names for it like 'Sucker Moon' (because the sucker fish is running) or Breaking Ice Moon for the ice breaking on the rivers and lakes.

And there's a song about a Pink Moon that was made popular by a Volkswagen commercial a few years back. It showed these young people out driving around on a beautiful evening, and then they get to party where everyone's drunk, and they look at each other as if to say 'screw this', and drive off into the woods.

That song was by Nick Drake, and you can listen to the whole thing below.