April's full moon, known as the Pink Moon, is set to peak on Thursday at 3:12am BST in the UK, just hours after Nasa's Artemis II launch. The historic mission will carry astronauts to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, with lift-off scheduled for 6:24pm EDT from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The four-person crew will travel around the Moon on a 10-day journey aboard the Orion spacecraft, reaching a distance from Earth greater than any human has ever travelled. This is due to the Moon's orbital position in early April 2026, which is slightly further from Earth than during the Apollo 13 mission in 1970.
The full moon will be visible across much of the UK, according to the Met Office, though cloud cover may obscure it in the south east and north east of England. The Moon will also appear full on Thursday night, offering another viewing opportunity. Despite its name, the Moon will not actually appear pink, though it may take on a pinkish hue near the horizon due to atmospheric conditions.
The Orion spacecraft will not be visible without a high-powered telescope, but a live feed of its position will be available on Nasa's website. The next full moon, the Flower Moon, will occur on Friday, 1 May at 6:23pm BST.
