Hyderabad: There will be no pink or green moons in April. Despite rumours on social media, there will be no planetary alignments that will result in the moon appearing either pink or green, stated experts.
While there is no history of a green moon, in Western countries, the full moon in April is called pink, especially by farmers, because it coincides with the blooming of spring's wild ground phlox and other flowers.
The colour of the moon only seems to change during a lunar eclipse – mostly orange or blood red. The moon also appears to be of a different colour sometimes due to the presence of pollutants in the air. The presence of different gases also makes the moon look different, said experts.
The Internet was rife with rumors about the moon turning green on April 20 and the full moon on April 22 being pink. Mr N. Raghunandan Kumar, director of the Planetary Society of India said, “Full moons have always been an interesting subject across the world, the observation is well documented as it has guided people about when to sow or when to reap.
Accordingly, the full moon in different seasons was given different names as people observed changes in environment. In India, Kartika Pournami is one popular name, like Karva Chauth. However, appearances of the moon or the colour are mostly local phenomena, depending on the atmospheric condition while rising or setting.”
