Metro Vancouver sky-watchers should mark their calendars for a special lunar event.
April's full moon, also known as the "Pink moon," ushers in a change in the weather and signals the blossoming of spring flowers in B.C. and beyond.
The moon will be at its fullest in Metro Vancouver skies on Saturday, April 16 at 11:55 a.m., according to timeanddate.com.
But cherry blossom aficionados might want to head out a bit earlier to catch the delicate powder-pink blooms.
UBC climate scientist Dr. Elizabeth Wolkovich told Vancouver Is Awesome in a previous interview that the cherry trees will likely bloom between late March and early April with the peak bloom predicted on April 2.
That said, cherry blossom season continues throughout April, which means you can bathe under the glow of the aptly-named Pink Moon while the trees are still in bloom.
Where does the pink moon get its name?
The April moon gets its name from "heralding the appearance of the 'moss pink,' or wild ground phlox—one of the first spring flowers," according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. They note that Native peoples would give distinctive names to each reoccurring full moon to mark the change of seasons. As such, many of these names arose when Native Americans first interacted with colonialists.
With that being said, Space.com notes that the April full moon also goes by other names including the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Full Fish Moon.
Last year, March's full moon was also known as the Paschal Full Moon, which is a term given to the moon that falls immediately after the spring equinox. This year, however, April's moon—also known as the "pink" moon—will hold the Paschal title. Since Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal Moon, this year the holiday will be "celebrated this year on Sunday, April 17 (following the full Moon on April 16)," according to The Almanac.
