Look for the ‘pink moon’ in the night sky this week
This month many in New Jersey got see an astronomical spectacle in the solar eclipse, and tonight the full moon will be returning in its magnificent glory. The “pink moon” will enter the sky Tuesday evening, and don’t worry: You won’t need eclipse glasses this time.
The full “pink” moon can be seen at about 7:49 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday. This is when the moon will reach peak illumination, but it will appear full to the human eye through Thursday, NASA said. Illumination will be at 100% on Wednesday and 98% on Thursday.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has a tool where you can enter a location, such as your state, city or ZIP code, to see all the local moon rise and set times, so New Jersey residents can find the perfect time to watch the moon this week.
Full moons are traditionally named after Native American, Colonial American and European sources, The Old Famer’s Almanac says. Despite the name, the moon will not appear pink. The name comes from the springtime wildflower Phlox subulata, which typically blooms during this season.
The next full moon, the “flower moon,” will appear on May 23.
In addition to the full moon, planets Jupiter, Mars and Saturn may also be visible to the naked eye in some parts of the East Coast, according to Space.com. In the New York area, Jupiter sets at about 9:14 p.m. on Tuesday, but it will only be about 15 degrees above the horizon, so getting a clear view may be challenging unless the observer has “has a flat horizon and very clear sky.”
Mars and Saturn may be visible in the New York City area in the predawn sky on Wednesday. Saturn rises at 4:17 a.m., and Mars at 4:36 a.m. Both will appear only a few degrees above the horizon, but Mars may be more visible. Astrologists say to find them, “look due east for Mars, which has a distinct reddish hue, and look upwards and to the right of it to see Saturn.”