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You’re going to want to look up around 7pm local time.
By Leigh Giangreco | TimeOut Chicago
This weekend, Chicagoans looking for a bit of celestial fun should stare up at the sky to catch a beautiful pink “micromoon” that’s likely going to be visible on Saturday night.
Unlike a blood moon, named after its sanguine hue, the pink moon doesn’t get its moniker from its tone. It also might be a bit trickier to see with the naked eye—but here is everything we know about the astrological event, including how to maximize your chances of witnessing it in all of its glory.
What is a pink micromoon?
Let’s start with the basics.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac named April’s full moon after creeping phlox or moss phlox, a small pink flower that blooms in early spring and spreads across the ground in dense clusters like moss. Sometimes called Paschal, the moon will rise one week before Easter.
This year’s moon is also a micromoon. Stargazers may be familiar with a supermoon, which occurs when a full moon is closest to Earth during its orbit, making it appear larger and brighter. A micromoon, on the other hand, happens when the moon is furthest away from earth, a point known as its apogee. That means the moon may appear smaller and duller, though the difference will be subtle.
When will the micromoon be visible from Chicago?
A full pink moon will be visible from Chicago Saturday night at 7:23pm, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. Visibility could be spotty, though, given partly cloudy skies giving way to full coverage as the night progresses. So make sure to look up in the early evening.
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