April’s Pink Moon

What It Is and When to See It

In March, we experienced a striking blood moon. This April, skywatchers will be treated to a “pink moon” — though it won’t actually be pink in color.

This month’s full moon occurs on April 12, 2025, at 8:22 p.m., and will be a micromoon, meaning the moon is at its farthest point from Earth. As a result, it will appear slightly smaller in the sky — the opposite of a supermoon.

Why is it called a “pink moon”?

Despite the name, the moon won’t take on a pink hue. The term comes from the early bloom of a North American wildflower known as Phlox subulata, or moss phlox, which is one of the first flowers to blossom in spring. Its vibrant pink color inspired the name.

Other traditional names for the pink moon

Many Indigenous tribes and early cultures named full moons based on seasonal changes and natural events. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, other names for April’s full moon include:

• Breaking Ice Moon (Algonquin)
• Moon When the Streams Are Again Navigable (Dakota)
• Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit)
• Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala)
• Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Lakota)
• Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakota)
• Frog Moon (Cree)
• Sucker Moon (Anishinaabe) – marking the time when sucker fish return to spawn

Upcoming full moons in 2025

Here are the next full moons and their traditional names:

• Flower Moon – May 12
• Strawberry Moon – June 11
• Buck Moon – July 10
• Sturgeon Moon – August 9
• Corn Moon – September 7
• Harvest Moon – October 6
• Beaver Moon – November 5

So mark your calendars and keep an eye on the night sky — the pink moon is just around the corner.