Full Pink Moon of April 2023 (4/5-6)

Robert Lea (Skywatching, space.com, 4/5/23); Eds., Wisdom Quarterly

The Pink Moon wasn't pink! What's going on? - It's just a Farmer's Almanac name.

Buddhism honors the ancient practice of the uposatha or lunar observance weekly.

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Pink Moon rises overnight on April 5, 2023. Watch April's full moon live in a free webcast.

The Eye in the Sky watches through the night

The Pink Moon peaks just after midnight and during the early morning of Thursday, April 6.

April's full moon, also known as the Pink Moon, rises first on April 5th and will be visible in its full glory throughout the night.

Around the globe, the Pink Moon will rise at around dusk and will set at around dawn, meaning it is visible for most of the night.

In the Sky gives specific times that skywatchers can see the full moon, with it rising on Wednesday at 19:01 EDT (2301 GMT) and reaching its peak at 00:34 EDT (0434 GMT) before setting on Thursday at 06:49 EDT (1049 GMT).

If clouds spoil the view, watch the Full Pink Moon of April 2023 live online here, courtesy of the Virtual Telescope Project in Ceccano, Italy, beginning at 1:30 am EDT (0530 GMT) on April 6th.

Following the Pink Moon full moon phase when the moon will be fully illuminated, the portion of the lunar face lit by the sun will begin to recede, a process called "waning" by astronomers.

This will lead to the next completely dark moon, or new moon phase, on April 20th according to Time and Date.

This point also marks the start of the next lunar cycle and the point at which the sun's illumination once again begins to creep back across the moon's face, with this growing illumination known as "waxing." More

The Buddhist Lunar observance ("sabbath" day)

Ancient India (proto-India) had a weekly holy day every week of the year in accordance with the phases of the moon. There are 13 "moonths" a year (13 x 28 = 364 days a year). The 28 comes from each week having seven days, and there being 4 weeks every month (one lunar period, one moon, one moonth). People used to be very connected to the sky and the earth's timekeeper. This day of observing the Eight Precepts to develop virtue (morality), mental calm (serenity), and mindfulness to develop insight is an ancient practice, according to the Buddha, one he recommended strongly that everyone observe. It is called the uposatha.