The night sky is about to get a new visitor – the “pink moon”. Don’t expect the moon to actually turn pink, though. Its name comes from a wildflower that blooms in early spring in North America, called “phlox subulata” or “moss pink”.
This full moon happens on April 13, 2025, at 2:22 AM. It’s special because the moon will be farther away from Earth than usual, making it look smaller. This is called a “micromoon”.
The moon’s distance from Earth changes because its orbit is not a perfect circle. When it’s at its farthest point, called “apogeo”, it’s about 406,000 kilometers away. That’s why this full moon looks smaller than usual.
The “pink moon” name isn’t official, but it’s been used for centuries. It comes from the “Old Farmer’s Almanac”, a book that lists names for each full moon. These names often relate to what’s happening in nature at that time of year. For example, April’s full moon is also called the “egg moon” or “sprouting grass moon”.
Some native American tribes have their own names for this full moon. The “anishnaabeg” people call it the “windy moon” because it happens when a certain fish, the “ventosa”, returns to shallow waters to lay eggs. They believe this fish helps purify the water and the creatures in it.
The next “micromoon” will happen in May, when the moon will be about 405,200 kilometers away. So mark your calendars for these special moon events and enjoy the show in the night sky!
Other names for April’s full moon
- The melting moon
- The moon when streams become navigable again
- The moon of sprouting plants and bushes
- The red grass moon
- The moon of the return of the ducks
- The moon of the geese laying eggs
- The frog moon
- The windy moon
What is a “micromoon”?
A “micromoon” happens when the full moon occurs at the same time as the moon’s farthest point from Earth, called “apogeo”. This makes the moon look smaller than usual. The “pink moon” is the second “micromoon” of 2025 and the most distant one, at over 406,000 kilometers away.
