🌸🌕 Beware The Full Pink Micro-Moon TONIGHT! 🌕🌸

[KellytheBelly]

Full Moon (Pink Moon): Occurs on April 12, 2025, at 8:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time [EDT].

The full Moon on April 12, 2025, occurs just before reaching apogee, which happens on April 13, 2025, at 6:49 PM EDT.

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. The first full micromoon of 2025. 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.

For the best view of this stunning spring Moon, head to an open area and watch as it rises above the horizon. At this moment, it will appear larger than usual due to the Moon illusion and take on a beautiful golden hue!

This full Moon heralds the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox (one of the first spring flowers). It is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon. Historically, Native Americans living in what is now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons by giving a distinctive name to each full Moon. This name was used to refer to the entire month in which the Moon occurred. With some variations, the same Moon names were used throughout the Algonquian tribes from New England to Lake Superior. Learn more about the Full Moon for April.

Alternative April Moon Names

April’s full Moon names reflect the vibrant signs of spring!

The Breaking Ice Moon (Algonquin) and Moon When the Streams Are Again Navigable (Dakota) reference the melting ice and the increased mobility of early spring.

The Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit) and Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala) highlight the plant growth about to take off.

Other names focus on the return of certain animals, like the Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Lakota), Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakota), and Frog Moon (Cree).

The Sucker Moon (Anishinaabe) marks the time to harvest sucker fish, which return to streams or shallow lakes to spawn. Legend says this is when the fish come back from the spirit world to purify the waters and the creatures within them. This name can also apply to the February Moon, honoring the sucker fish’s sacrifice to help the Anishinaabe survive the winter.

[source: (Old Farmer's) Almanac]

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Squee! 'Full Pink Micro-Moon' party at our house tonight!!! 〰 ٩(^ᗜ^ )و ´-