April's full "Pink Moon" dazzled stargazers with a glorious display of moonlight on April 1mere hours before NASA's Artemis 2 mission launched 4 astronauts on a 10-day journey to the far side of the moon.
The April full moon is also known as the Pink Moon in North Americain reference to the ground-blooming plant phloxwhich flowers in early spring in regions of the U.S. During a full moonthe lunar disk appears completely lit from our perspective on Earth as it travels opposite the sun in our sky.
"We have a beautiful moon risewe're headed right at it," said Artemis 2 mission commander Wiseman to ground controlminutes after enduring a bone-shaking ride up through Earth's atmosphere. That same moon rose over billions of stargazers spread across the globeincluding countless photographers who have already shared jaw-dropping images of the lunar spectacle.
Read on to see a selection of incredible photographs of the April full moon. If you missed it last nightthere's no need to fretas the lunar disk will still appear almost full to the naked eye over the coming nights. Check out our daily breakdown of the Artemis 2 mission to discover what the astronauts will be getting up to as they journey around the moon and be sure to stay up to date with the latest news with our mission live blog.
Gorgeous photographs of the April full moon
Our first image was taken by photographer Josh Dury using a 600mm telephoto lens in the preadwn hours of April 2as the full Pink Moon loomed low over the western horizon above a trio of crosses lining the Brent Knoll in SomersetUK.
"I was drawn to the astronomical timing of 'moveable feasts' based on the paschal full moon; the first to occur on or after March 21," Dury told Space.com. "With The Passover coinciding with the first full moon of spring and Easter falling on the first Sunday after the spring full moon. As is the case this yearthe full paschal moon was due this morning on Thursday 2nd April and Easter this coming Sundaythe 5th April."
Gregg Newton captured the April full moon as it rose over the eastern horizon from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1with the enormous countdown clock showing the amount of time elapsed since the launch of the Artemis 2 moon rocket.
That same moon was captured from 925 miles (1,490 kilometers) away by Lokman Vural Elibol as it glowed between the illuminated tips of the Empire State Building and another New York skyscraper.
Gary Hershorn captured those same skyscrapers as the moon passed behind the spire of the Empire State Building from Union CityNew Jerseyrevealing more of the urban skyline as artificial and natural light teamed up to illuminate the night.
This spectacular view of the yellow full moon was captured by Kirill Kudryavstev from the city of FrankfurtGermanyas a Boeing 777 commercial jet skimmed across the bottom of the lunar diskleaving atmospheric distortion in its wake.
Returning to the theme of lunar explorationLuis Robayo snapped this well-timed image of the lunar disk as it hung over an obelisk in the city of Buenos AiresArgentina. A massive Artemis 2 Space Launch System rocket can be seen projected onto the monumentseemingly ready to launch on its own mission to the moon.
This beautifully detailed shot of the moon was captured on March 31 from MiamiFlorida by Megan Briggsthe night before it reached its full moon phase. Ancient lava fields can be seen as dark lunar maria marring the silvery lunar surfacewhich themselves are threaded with bright streaks of reflective debris strewn across the surface by violent asteroid strikes.
Kirill Kudrayavtsevmeanwhileopted to place a foreground object in his compositioncreating a beautifully contrasting image as the black silhouette of the weathervane of the Church of the Three Kings lay across the glowing yellow moon.
In Washington D.C.photographer J. David Ake was able to image Earth's natural satellite as it glowed above the Lincoln Memorialkeeping "Honest Abe" companyeven as clouds streaked its ancient surface.
FinallyApu Gomes took in the scene as the Pink Moon rose over California's Venice Beachsurrounded by palm trees as it took to the early spring sky.
Feeling inspired to capture your own photos of Earth's natural satellite? Then be sure to check out our guide to photographing the moonalong with our picks of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.
Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readersthen please send your photo(s)commentsand your name and location to [email protected].
