The full moon of April 2025, known as the "pink moon", awaits you on the night of April 12 to 13. So, what to expect, what time to see it and how? Here's the lowdown.
Contrary to its name, the pink Moon doesn't really change color. It remains visually identical, except when it's close to the horizon, where it can appear slightly orange, an effect caused by passing through the Earth's atmosphere, just as it does when the Sun rises or sets. During a lunar eclipse, the Moon can indeed take on a coppery hue, as observed in North America recently. But the expression "pink Moon" doesn't refer to a color. The name comes from theFarmer's Almanac, a traditional agricultural calendar first published in 1792 in the United States, which associates each full Moon with a name inspired by the seasons, nature or tradition. For example, the first full Moon of the year is called the "Wolf Moon", that of June the "Strawberry Moon", and so on.
The term "pink moon" actually refers to the blossoming of the creeping phlox, a small pink flower widespread in North America in spring. At this time of year, the prairies are covered with carpets of colorful flowers, which inspired this poetic name. This is not an astronomical phenomenon, but a traditional designation. This April full Moon also plays an important role in the Christian calendar, as the date of Easter is set for the Sunday following the first full Moon after the spring equinox. In 2025, this full Moon falls in April, which explains why Easter will be celebrated on April 20 this year.
The term "micro-moon" is used when the full moon coincides with the Moon's apogee, i.e. the point in its orbit where it is furthest from the Earth. In this case, on April 13, 2025 at 2:22 a.m. (Paris time), the Moon will be some 405,990 km from our planet. This increased distance makes the Moon slightly smaller and less luminous than usual, although this difference is hardly perceptible to the naked eye.
The full moon will reach its apogee on Sunday April 13, 2025 at 2:22 a.m. (Paris time). It will rise the evening before, on Saturday April 12, at around 9:34 pm, and set on Sunday morning at around 6:56 am. This means that the optimum observation range extends throughout the night, with a peak at the exact time of the full moon.
In the Ile-de-France region, the weather forecast for the night of April 12 to 13, 2025 indicates partly overcast skies, with temperatures around 12°C. These conditions should enable a decent observation of the full moon, subject to changes in cloud cover.
To take full advantage of this celestial spectacle, we recommend :
By following these tips, astronomy enthusiasts and the curious will be able to appreciate the beauty of this "pink micro-moon" in the best possible conditions.
