The moon and stars won't be the only prominent objects in the night sky this April.
The US Naval Observatory announced that the April full moon would appear soon, and three planets from our solar system will accompany it in the night sky when it does.
When and where the moon and its company would appear depends on where you are at that time.
April Pink Moon Details
The US Naval Observatory mentioned on its Astronomical Applications Department page that April's full moon, also known as the "Pink moon," will occur in the wee hours of Apr. 6. Contrary to its name, the moon doesn't turn pink; April's full moon is called as such due to it being named after the seasonal blooming of wild ground phlox in North America, per Forbes.
This particular moon phase also holds a significant role in Christianity, as it determines the date of Easter, a Christian event marked to happen on Apr. 9. For those unaware, Christians Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his death by crucifixion; it marks the end of the Lenten season and the start of the Easter season.
However, this Pink moon is quite special, as it would be accompanied by three planets in the night sky: Mercury, Venus, and Mars, per Space.com.
How To See The Pink Moon With The Three Planets
With the moon being in its full moon phase, you should expect it to be the brightest in the night sky, and you may not see much detail on and around it due to its brightness. However, you could use a Moon filter for your binoculars or telescopes to observe the moon or wait a few days before or after the full moon to see more of the moon's details.
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Speaking of the days before the full moon, Mercury will become visible to the naked eye in the night sky on the night of April 5, the day before the moon enters its full moon phase. Mercury will be accompanied by Venus and Mars, which you can also see in the night sky with the naked eye.
To view all three planets, you must find Mercury 20 minutes after the sun gets below the western horizon if you're in New York. By then, it should be 12-16 degrees high in the west.
Venus will be just beside Mercury, though it is easier to spot among the two due to its brightness; it is 35 degrees from the western horizon after the sun sets when the sky gets darker. Meanwhile, Mars is expected to be visible 65 degrees up the western horizon at 8 PM EDT.
Unfortunately, those living in Melbourne, Australia, couldn't see all three planets accompanying the moon immediately in the night sky, as Mercury couldn't be seen at sunset. Meanwhile, Venus will appear to people in Melbourne 16 degrees above the northwestern horizon at sunset.
Mars will be visible to those at Melbourne, according to When The Curves Line Up. More specifically, the Red planet would be 25-26 degrees high at sunset, though it wouldn't be visible until about 6:30 PM local time.
While the naked eye is sufficient to see the planets, using binoculars or a telescope enhances the experience.
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