A Full “Pink Moon” Will Reach Its Peak Over The UK In The Early

A full “Pink Moon” will reach its peak over the UK in the early hours of Thursday, 2 April 2026, offering skywatchers a bright springtime spectacle. The Moon will be fully illuminated at around 03:12 BST, when it sits opposite the Sun in Earth’s sky. Despite its name, the Pink Moon will not appear pink. The term comes from seasonal pink phlox flowers that bloom in early spring, rather than the Moon’s colour.

• Minimal light pollution (rural or countryside locations)
• Clear eastern or southeastern horizons
• Little cloud cover overnight

The Moon rises around sunset and stays visible through the night, but experts say the best viewing conditions occur when it is low on the horizon, where it can appear larger and slightly orange due to atmospheric effects.

Regions across the UK with darker skies such as parts of Scotland, northern England, and rural Wales are typically ideal for clearer sightings.

• The Moon will appear bright and full throughout the night of 1 2 April
• It may appear orange or golden near the horizon
• The bright star Spica will be visible nearby in the constellation Virgo

Although it’s not a supermoon, it may look unusually large due to the “moon illusion”, a visual effect when it’s close to the horizon.

This particular full Moon is known as the Paschal Moon, which is used to determine the date of Easter in the Christian calendar.

In 2026, it sets Easter Sunday on 5 April.

• Look towards the eastern sky at sunset
• Choose a location with a clear, unobstructed view
• Use binoculars or a camera for better detail
• Avoid bright city lights for the clearest experience