Photos: Sky lit up by rare full 'Pink Moon'

Many Hindus see it as the Hanuman Jayanti Festival Moon

Last updated: April 17, 2022 | 13:35

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The unusual full "Pink Moon" that brightened the night sky last weekend was known by various names, including Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon, Pesach, and Passover Moon.

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The full Moon shone brightly over the weekend, reaching its apogee on April 17 at 12.15am.

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The full moon in April is commonly referred to as "pink," after a species of wildflower known as phlox.

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In North America, the tiny pink ground cover blooms during this time of year.

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This is also the Paschal Full Moon, the first full moon after the northern spring equinox, which decides when Easter takes place (it is usually the first Sunday after Paschal Full Moon). It's also the Pesach Moon, also known as the Passover Moon.

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Many Hindus see it as the Hanuman Jayanti Festival Moon.

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Buddhists in Sri Lanka refer to it as Bak Poya, which commemorates when the Buddha visited the island and avoided a war by settling a quarrel between chiefs.

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The full moon (pink moon) rises behind the Basra International Stadium, in Iraq's southern city, on April 16, 2022.

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The moon rises behind the Alpina Bahn at Frankfurt's Dippemess, a traditional German fair, Saturday, April 16, 2022.

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