April Full Moon 2025: The Pink Moon Sets Easter Date 2025
The Full Moon in April (known as the Pink Moon) will take place in the constellation Virgo on Sunday, April 13. The brightest dot near the Moon will be Spica, the most prominent star in Virgo. This Full Moon is also special for another reason — it determines the date of Easter in 2025. Want to learn about the Full Moon’s rising time in your city and identify nearby celestial objects? You can easily do it with the free astronomy app Sky Tonight. Read on, and you'll learn the meaning of the Pink Moon, its other names, and all the facts you need to know about the April Full Moon!
Contents
- When is the Full Moon in April 2025?
- April Full Moon in Virgo
- Is the Pink Moon actually pink?
- April Full Moon alternative names
- When is the next Full Moon?
- April Full Moon 2025: Key takeaways
When is the Full Moon in April 2025?
This month, the Moon will reach its full phase on April 13 at 00:22 GMT (April 12, 8:22 p.m. EDT). At this moment, it will be exactly 180 degrees opposite the Sun in celestial longitude.
In astronomy, the Full Moon is the exact moment in time, but to observers on Earth, the Moon looks full for about a day before and after that moment. You can see the bright, round lunar disk in the east in the evening, right above you at midnight, and in the west just before sunrise.
April Moon phases 2025
Here are the exact dates and times for the key lunar phases in April 2025:
- First Quarter Moon: April 5, 02:15 GMT (April 4, 10:15 p.m. EDT)
- Full Moon: April 13, 00:22 GMT (April 12, 8:22 p.m. EDT)
- Last Quarter Moon: April 21, 01:35 GMT (April 20, 9:35 p.m. EDT)
- New Moon: April 27, 19:31 GMT (3:31 p.m. EDT)
April Full Moon in Virgo
In 2025, as in most years, the April Full Moon will occur in the constellation Virgo, near its brightest star, Spica.
Occasionally, the April Full Moon may be in Libra, but this only happens when the full phase falls right at the end of April. The next time this will happen will be in 2037.
Spica, the bright star near the Full Moon
With a visual magnitude of 1.0, Spica is the 16th brightest star in the night sky. However, finding it near the luminous Full Moon (visual magnitude -12.3) can be challenging, especially in areas with significant light pollution. Try to observe the pair with binoculars.
On April 13, at 00:39 GMT (April 12, 8:39 p.m. EDT), Spica will pass within 0°18′ of our natural satellite. Also, a lunar occultation of Spica will be visible over Latin America and the Caribbean and southern parts of South Africa from 23:50 GMT on April 12 to 04:16 GMT on April 13 (07:50 p.m. EDT on April 12 to 12:16 a.m. EDT on April 13).
To confirm you're looking at Spica, you can use the Sky Tonight app. It will help you identify celestial objects effortlessly.
You can catch this celestial duo in the sky from dusk till dawn, with their highest point around midnight.
Is the Pink Moon actually pink?
Surely it is if you look at it through rose-colored glasses. In reality, though, this name was given to the April Full Moon by Native Americans to represent the color of the wild ground phlox. The phlox is one of the earliest flowers to bloom this month. No matter the color, walking under the Full Moon and enjoying the first spring flowers is a wonderful experience!
By the way, the Moon does appear in a spectrum of colors in visual and metaphorical senses. Take our quiz to learn more about the colors of the Moon!
April Full Moon alternative names
Here are some examples of what the April Full Moon is called in different cultures:
- Chinese: Peony Moon
- Celtic: Growing Moon
- Wiccan: Seed Moon
- Cherokee: Flower Moon
- Southern Hemisphere: Harvest Moon, Hunter’s Moon
Paschal Full Moon 2025: Determining the Easter Date
This April’s Full Pink Moon is the Paschal Full Moon, which determines the date of Easter. A Paschal Full Moon is the first Full Moon after the March equinox, which in 2025 falls on March 20. According to the traditional rule, the Western (Roman Catholic and Protestant) Christian churches celebrate Easter on the Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon, therefore, in 2025 Easter will be observed on April 20.
April Micromoon
April’s Full Moon will occur near its farthest point from Earth, known as apogee. As a result, it will appear about 5.1% smaller in diameter than usual — earning it the name Micromoon, the opposite of a Supermoon. However, the size difference is so subtle that you might not even notice it. Want to learn more? Check out our infographic on Micromoons and Supermoons!
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will occur on May 12, 2025, at 16:56 GMT (12:56 p.m. EDT). It is traditionally called the Flower Moon. If you’d like to learn more about the upcoming Full Moons and the origins of their names, read our article.
When is the next Pink Moon?
The Pink Moon is the Full Moon that occurs in April, so the next Pink Moon after April 13, 2025, will take place next year — on April 2, 2026, at 02:12 GMT (April 1, 10:12 p.m. EDT).
April Full Moon 2025: Key takeaways
The Full Pink Moon in 2025 will take place on April 13 at 00:22 GMT (April 12, 8:22 p.m. EDT). It got its name after a pink wildflower (Phlox subulata) that blooms this month. Although the Moon won’t turn pink, it’s still worth looking at, especially as the evenings get warmer in the Northern Hemisphere. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere, where the April Full Moon goes by other names, also shouldn’t miss it.
To find the dates of all the Full Moons coming this year, check out our colorful Full Moon calendar for 2025. Also, use the Sky Tonight app to find out when the Full Moon will rise in your location.
We wish you clear skies and successful observations!
