The so-called “Blood Moon,” referring to a total lunar eclipse, is also a Paschal Moon and a “Pink Moon.” It takes place on the night of April 14 and early on April 15.
The Paschal Moon--or Paschal Full Moon--is the first full moon after the vernal equinox, or the arrival of spring, which took place in late March.
The moon is also called the “Pink Moon,” which is the Native American term for the full moon in April. It’s called the “Pink Moon” not because of its color but because it marks the springtime bloom of the moss pink flower, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
“April’s Full Moon, Full Pink Moon, heralds the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox—one of the first spring flowers. It is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon,” the Almanac says.
The full moon will take place at 3:42 a.m. local time on April 15.
In the Christian tradition, there’s some significance attached to the lunar “tetrad”--which is a total of four lunar eclipses in a row. These will take place between 2014 and 2015.
As Earthsky notes, “The term Blood Moon seems to have special significance for some proponents of Christian prophesy, as a remarkable series of total lunar eclipses – a tetrad – begins. The first one falls on April 14 or 15 (depending on your time zone). On that night, the brilliant ‘star’ near the April full moon is the red planet Mars, which comes closest to Earth for the year on April 14.
“Mars and the moon will be near each other as the eclipse takes place, and indeed, as seen from around the world, all night long. North America is in a good place to see this eclipse, by the way, and all four total eclipses of the lunar tetrad.”
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