If you want to look up at something majestic instead of looking down at all the news about tariffs and impending doom, there’s a chance you’ll be able to spot a Pink Moon in Vancouver this Saturday.
Like most majestic space phenomena, the sighting depends on good weather, which the current forecast provides some hope for.
Weather in Vancouver changes quickly, though, so we’ll have to wait and see how weather conditions fare for seeing the Pink Moon in Vancouver.
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What is the Pink Moon?
Before we delve into how, when, and where to see it, what is a Pink Moon?
According to our old friends at the Old Farmers’ Almanac, the name Pink Moon comes from a flower that blooms in early spring. The flower is native to eastern North America and is often called “moss pink.”
The Almanac adds, “Thanks to this seasonal connection, the April full Moon became known as the Pink Moon!”
So, if you were expecting the moon to actually have a pink hue, you may be disappointed. It is also referred to as the Paschal Full Moon and helps to determine the Easter date.
“Each full Moon of the year has a traditional name such as this- for example, there’s the Strawberry Moon in June and the Corn (or Harvest) Moon in September, each of which coincides with the time of harvest for certain crops,” Dr. Rosanna Tilbrook, an astronomer with the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, told Daily Hive.
How to spot the Pink Moon in Vancouver
As we mentioned, as long as the weather is decent, you can spot this Moon on Saturday evening.
“A full Moon is easily visible with the naked eye from Vancouver, provided it’s not too cloudy, and the skies are set to be clear on Saturday night,” Tilbrook said.
The Old Farmers’ Almanac also says that the best way to view it is to head to an open area and watch as it rises over the horizon, as that is when it will appear larger due to the “Moon Illusion.”
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s weather forecast as of 11:30 am on Monday, while there’s a chance of showers on Saturday, overnight, the forecast calls for cloudy periods, which means periods of clear skies.
ECCC
Tilbrook also mentioned that the space centre is doing some cool stuff to do with the Moon this month.
“If people are interested in learning more about the Moon, we have two planetarium shows running throughout April all about our nearest neighbour: Forward to the Moon, at 15:45 daily, and Exploring the Moon, at 12:45 on weekends and holidays.”
Also, if you’ve ever wanted to touch the Moon, Tilbrook says that “visitors can even touch a real piece of the Moon in our gallery space!”