The full moon of April, popularly known as the pink moon, surprised skywatchers this weekend with an astronomical display that, despite its name, did not have pink hues.
View from Miami and other parts of the northern and southern hemispheres, this full moon was a micromoon, a phenomenon that occurs when the Moon is at its farthest point from Earth.
The Instagram site Only in Dade shared stunning images of the phenomenon captured in Miami Dade County.
What is a micromoon?
According to the planetary scientist from NASA, Dr. Noah Petro, explained to CNN, the Moon's orbit is not perfectly circular but elliptical, which means that there are times when it is farther from our planet, at a point called apogee. When the full moon coincides with this point, it appears smaller and dimmer from Earth.
The microluna of April was the first of three that will occur in 2025. Petro, leader of the scientific team for NASA's Artemis III mission, noted that these moons can appear up to 14% smaller and 30% dimmer than supermoons. Although the difference is hard to notice with the naked eye, photographs allow for a better appreciation of the contrast.
This type of full moon reaches its peak when it is approximately 49,000 kilometers farther than the largest supermoon of the year, which is expected in November.
Why is it called "pink moon"?
Despite its name, the moon does not change color. The term "pink moon" comes from the blooming of Phlox subulata, a wildflower with a pink hue that covers the eastern and central United States during this time of year. The name is rooted in the traditions of The Old Farmer's Almanac and is associated with the arrival of spring.
Various Native American cultures also assigned springtime names to this moon: the Tlingit called it the moon of plant sprouts, the Cherokee referred to it as the moon of flowers, and the Apaches named it the moon of large leaves.
Additionally, this full moon has religious significance: in the Christian calendar, the so-called Paschal Moon is the first full moon of the spring equinox or thereafter, and it determines the date of Easter.
When and how to observe it?
The micromoon peaked on Saturday at 8:22 PM (Eastern Time). For those who want to enjoy it in greater detail, NASA recommends finding a location with minimal light pollution and using binoculars or telescopes.
The Virtual Telescope Project, led by astrophysicist Gianluca Mas, livestreamed the rise of the moon from Italy, noting that this full moon was approximately 6% smaller than average.
Astronomical calendar for 2025: moons, meteors, and eclipses
After the pink moon, there are eight full moons left in the year. Among the most noteworthy are the supermoons in October, November, and December. Here is the remaining lunar calendar:
- May 12: Flower Moon
- June 11: Strawberry Moon
- July 10: Buck Moon
- August 9: Sturgeon Moon
- September 7: Corn Moon
- October 6: Harvest Moon
- November 5: Beaver Moon
- December 4: Cold Moon
Important meteor showers are also expected, such as the Lyrids (April 21 and 22) and the Perseids (August 12 and 13), among others.
Regarding eclipses, a total lunar eclipse will occur on September 7 and 8, visible in Europe, Africa, Asia, parts of South America, Australia, Alaska, and Antarctica. Later, on September 21, a partial solar eclipse will take place, observable in remote areas of the South Pacific.
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