When to See the 2025 Pink Moon: Spring’s First Full Moon

Spring’s first full moon — the Pink Moon — will rise on the evening of Saturday, April 12, 2025, glowing with golden-orange hues as it ascends in the east. Despite the name, this moon won’t appear pink. Its title comes from the early blooming pink phlox, a spring wildflower found in North America.

But 2025’s Pink Moon offers more than just a name. This year, it’s a micromoon (the opposite of a supermoon), a Paschal Moon (used to determine the date of Easter), and, depending on where you live, may even share the sky with the northern lights.

What Time Will the Pink Moon Rise?

The Pink Moon reaches its full phase at 8:23 p.m. EDT on April 12. That’s just about the same time it rises for many North American cities, making it ideal for moon watchers hoping to see it near the horizon.

Here’s when you can catch it locally:

New York: Moonrise at 7:31 p.m. EDT; Sunset at 7:32 p.m.
Los Angeles: Moonrise at 7:26 p.m. PDT; Sunset at 7:22 p.m.
Vancouver: Moonrise at 7:55 p.m. PDT; Fullest at 5:22 p.m.
London (UK): Moonrise at 8:52 p.m. BST on Sunday, April 13

For the best view, look east just after sunset from a clear, open space — a hilltop or field works great. You don’t need any equipment, but binoculars or a telescope can enhance the view, especially if you want to spot craters and ridges on the lunar surface.

Will It Actually Look Pink?

No, but it may glow in orange or golden tones when close to the horizon. The “pink” in Pink Moon comes from creeping phlox, a wildflower that signals spring’s arrival. Other traditional names for this moon include:

Sprouting Grass Moon
Egg Moon
Fish Moon

These names reflect springtime changes, such as plant growth, spawning fish, and seasonal egg-laying in nature.

It’s Also a Micromoon — What Does That Mean?

This year’s Pink Moon qualifies as a micromoon, which means it’s at its farthest point from Earth. It will appear smaller and slightly dimmer than a typical full moon. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, this distance can make it look about 7% smaller than a supermoon.

Because of its higher position in the sky, it might seem smaller than usual — but it hasn’t shrunk. It’s just farther away and lacks the moon illusion that happens when it’s near the horizon.

What Is a Paschal Moon and Why Does It Matter?

The Paschal Moon is the first full moon after the spring equinox and is used to calculate Easter Sunday in the Western Christian calendar.

The spring equinox happened on March 20, 2025.
The previous full moon was part of a total lunar eclipse on March 13–14.
That makes April 12’s full moon the Paschal Moon.

Easter then falls on the Sunday after this moon, which is April 20, 2025.

The Paschal Moon also holds meaning in Judaism — Passover begins at sundown on Saturday, the same day as the Pink Moon. The term “paschal” comes from “pascha,” the Greek and Latin word for Passover.

Will the Northern Lights Be Visible Too?

There’s a chance. Forecasts suggest a mild aurora may appear in parts of the northern U.S. on Thursday, April 10, just before the full moon. If skies remain clear, some areas may catch both the aurora and the moon — a rare visual pairing.

What’s Next?

The next full moon after the Pink Moon will be the Flower Moon on May 12, 2025. It will be the second full moon of spring and one of the year’s three supermoons.

Also on the celestial calendar this year:

Three supermoons
Two total lunar eclipses (March 13/14 and September 7/8)

So, while the Pink Micromoon might be small, it kicks off a big year for skywatchers.

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