The Paschal Moon
Did you know that the full Moon sets the date for Easter? April’s full Moon has religious significance as well. In Christianity, it’s known as the Lenten Moon if it’s the last full Moon of winter (before the spring equinox) or the Paschal Full Moon if it’s the first ecclesiastical full Moon of spring (after the equinox).
This year, April’s ecclesiastical full Moon (the 14th day in the lunar cycle, which falls on April 12, 2025) occurs after the ecclesiastical spring equinox (always set on March 21, whereas the astronomical spring equinox is on March 20, 2025), making it the Paschal Moon. As the first full Moon of the season, it will determine the date of Easter this year.
Why Is It Called the Pink Moon?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac draws its full Moon names from various sources, including Native American, Colonial American, and European traditions. Traditionally, these names refer not just to the full Moon but to the entire lunar month in which it occurs.
While the name “Pink Moon” might suggest a rosy-colored Moon, the reality is a bit less magical. The name comes from the early spring bloom of a wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox subulata, commonly known as creeping phlox or moss phlox. This flower, often called “moss pink,” was in full bloom around April’s full Moon.
Thanks to this seasonal connection, the April full Moon became known as the Pink Moon!
An April Micromoon
The full Moon on April 12, 2025, occurs just before reaching apogee, which happens on April 13, 2025, at 6:49 p.m. EDT (April 13, 2025, at 22:49 GMT).
Apogee refers to the point when the Moon is farthest from Earth. When the full Moon occurs near this point, it’s classified as a “micromoon”—the opposite of a supermoon. Since this full Moon happens about 22 hours before apogee, it will appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual.
Why does the Moon’s distance vary? The Moon orbits Earth in an elliptical path, with one side closer and the other farther. While this affects its size and brightness, the difference is too subtle to notice with the naked eye. What often makes the Moon appear larger is the “Moon illusion”—an optical effect that occurs when it’s near the horizon. Since this micromoon will be high in the sky, it likely won’t appear as large or imposing as a full Moon closer to the horizon.
Read more at: https://www.almanac.com/content/full-moon-april
