April Full Moon 2020: "Super Pink Moon," the biggest of the year, rises Tuesday

The full moon of April 2020, called the "Super Pink Moon," a cosmic distraction from COVID-19, will occur on Tuesday, April 7th. Skywatchers in the U.S. can see the "Super Pink Moon" rise into the evening sky as the sun sets on Tuesday. For those who don't know, a "supermoon" is a full moon that appears slightly larger than average. In New York City, moonrise is at 7:05 p.m. local time on the evening of April 7th, and moonset is the next morning at 7:05 a.m.

The Pink Moon, which really isn't pink, symbolizes the sprouting of seed and the explosion of pink flowers – the moss pink, or the wild ground phlox, one of the first flowers to bloom with the arrival of the spring. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, it can also appear to be red-orange due to the composition of Earth's atmosphere and the angle at which it is viewed. April's Full Moon has also been called the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon.

The Native American Full Moon names, relating to nature, the seasons, hunting, fishing, and farming, date back to when Native Americans lived in today’s northern and eastern United States. They reflect the harsh climate of North America and the lifestyle traditions of its first people.

The Algonquin Full Moon names, and variations used by other Native American tribes, are descriptive of nature’s seasons and gifts. The indigenous people kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring Full Moon.

For the Abenaki, the April Full Moon was the “Sugar Maker Moon.” For the Arapaho, it was called the “Ice Breaking In The River Moon.” The Cheyenne called it the “Moon When The Geese Lay Eggs.” The Cree of the Northern Plains and Canada referred to the April moon as the “Gray Goose Moon." And for the Tlingit of the Pacific Northwest, the April full moon was known as the "Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs."

In this time of the pandemic, if possible to get outside while respecting social distancing, breathe in the energy of this uplifting "supermoon," and listen to the wisdom plants and animals have to impart. Know that these dark days of the "world on pause" will pass. Life as we know it may be different, but each day we are alive is a day to give thanks. As Clint Eastwood once said, it's time to improvise, overcome, and adapt.