These Are the Astronomical Events You Don’t Want to Miss in April

Here’s your official warning: The energy of April is going to be a lot. In astronomical terms, there is a lot happening this month and the energy surrounding these events might make you feel a little all over the place. While we still have a few weeks before the next Mercury retrograde kicks into gear, this month brings with it a pink supermoon as well as a Pluto retrograde.

Here are the astronomical events you must know about this month, including two which will be visible to the naked eye.

The Pink Supermoon

The full moon vibes are going to ramp up towards the end of the month, with a supermoon taking place on April 27. According to Sydney Observatory, a supermoon is a “Full Moon that occurs very close in time to when the Moon is closest in distance to Earth during its elliptical orbit about our planet. The actual definition is unclear and almost completely arbitrary”.

The supermoon in April is also known as the pink moon — a nickname that dates back to folklore and refers to the pink flowers that bloom in April in the Northern Hemisphere. The best part of the pink moon is the ease in which you’ll be able to see it.

According to Time and Date, the super full moon looks around 30 percent brighter than a micro full moon and 16 percent brighter than a regular full moon because it’s so close to the Earth this month. The best time to view the supermoon is just after moonrise, when it’s closer to the horizon.

Pluto Retrograde

Don’t worry, Mercury won’t be going into retrograde until the end of May, but in the meantime, our pal Pluto will be. According to Astrology.com, Pluto brings an energy that is all about “focusing on our deepest selves, psychology, transformation, and the subconscious”.

Kicking off on April 27, Pluto retrograde is taking place in Capricorn so be prepared to potentially deal with matters that involve karma, stability and structure, says Astrology.com. This retrograde period will last five months, ending on October 6, so you might find you’re a little more career-focused over the next little while.

The energy around this retrograde might not be comfortable (when is it ever?) but use this time to make necessary changes in your life — especially any that will help you evolve further.

The Lyrids Meteor Shower

One of the oldest recorded meteor showers in history, the first recorded sighting of the Lyrids was in 687 BC, when Chinese court astronomers reported, “In the middle of the night, stars fell like rain”. This meteor shower often leaves behind glowing dust trails that can last for a few minutes at a time.

According to Time and Date, the Lyrid meteor shower is usually active between April 16 and 25, with the peak period for viewing around April 22 and 23. To view this shower for yourself, you’ll probably want to get an early night as the Lyrids will be brightest between moonset and dawn on the night between April 22 and 23. Light pollution can often affect the visibility of the meteor shower, so try to find yourself a dark location if you can.