Soon, observers in Kansas will have the opportunity to witness the entire “pink” moon peak.
The reason the pink moon got its name was due of the April blooming wildflowers, not because of the color of the full moon. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the name was specifically inspired by the flower “moss pink.”
According to NASA, the full moon in April is also known as the fish moon, egg moon, growing grass moon, and other names in addition to the pink moon.
Here are the best times to see them in Wichita this year.
What time is Wichita going to see its pink moon?
Peak time for the pink moon is 6:49 p.m. In Wichita, Tuesday is Central Daylight Time, but later in the day, when the sun sets at 8:12 p.m., you might get a better view.
Monday morning through Thursday morning, the moon will appear full, according to NASA.
With a low of about 47 degrees Fahrenheit, the National Weather Service predicts that Tuesday night in Wichita will be partly cloudy.
Visitors are welcome to the Kansas Astronomical Observers meeting, which will take place at Lake Afton Public Observatory on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. More local astronomy events can be found by searching the Night Sky Network online.
📸🌕 We are sharing some of our favorite tips for capturing the moon at its best using your iPhone – It’s actually way more fun than you might think! Learn about each moon phase here: https://t.co/DosGImJUY6 pic.twitter.com/50t9ZTDN3h
— The Farmers’ Almanac (@FarmersAlmanac) April 15, 2024
When the Eta Aquarids cross the sky in early May, Kansas stargazers will be treated to a meteor shower. According to the website Space.com, the meteor shower will peak on May 4th and should be easier to see than the 2023 Aquarids since the moon won’t be obstructing it as much.
More lunar eclipses in 2024
In the event that you miss the pink moon this month, there will be eight more chances to watch a full moon in 2024.
The full moon calendar for this year is provided by Space.com:
- May 23: Flower moon
- June 21: Strawberry moon
- July 21: Buck moon
- Aug. 19: Sturgeon moon (supermoon and blue moon)
- Sept. 17: Harvest moon (supermoon and partial lunar eclipse)
- Oct. 17: Hunter’s moon (supermoon)
- Nov. 15: Beaver moon (supermoon)
- Dec. 15: Cold moon
Numerous names for full moons exist, many of them originating from Indigenous civilizations. Native American moon names are used in The Farmers’ Almanac in addition to names from other North American and colonial American sources.
