On April 12, get ready for a celestial event that’s more poetic than pink—the much-hyped Pink Micromoon. While the name might conjure visions of a rose-tinted moon glowing above, the reality is more rooted in tradition than optics.

The "Pink Moon" owes its name not to its color, but to the seasonal bloom of Phlox subulata, or moss pink, a wildflower that carpets the ground in early spring. The name comes from Native American and Colonial traditions, where moons were labeled to reflect natural seasonal phenomena. So no, your Instagram won't capture a bubblegum-colored moon—but what you'll witness is still special.

What makes this full moon stand out is that it’s also a Micromoon, meaning it occurs when the Moon is at its farthest point from Earth (apogee). As a result, it appears slightly smaller and dimmer than a typical full moon—a contrast to the larger-than-life Supermoon.

This full moon peaks at 8:22 PM EDT on April 12 (or 5:52 AM IST on April 13). NASA notes that it’s also known by other names like the Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, and in India, the Hanuman Jayanti Moon—marking the birth of Lord Hanuman.

So while it may not light up the sky in pink or appear giant in size, this Micromoon carries cultural, seasonal, and astronomical significance. It’s a quiet reminder of nature’s rhythms—subtle, symbolic, and entirely worth stepping outside to witness.