April full moon 2025: When to watch the pink micromoon in Washington
April's full moon is frequently called the pink moon, and this year, it's also a micromoon, though you won't need a telescope to see it.
Here's what to know about the first full moon of spring.
The full moon will occur at 5:22 p.m. PDT on Saturday, April 12, 2025, according to Time and Date.
The pink moon got its name from the early spring-blooming wildflower moss pink, also known as creeping phlox, which is native to eastern North America, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. The moon doesn't appear pink in color.
The moon phases for April are:
🌕 Full Moon: April 13
🌗 Last Quarter: April 21
🌑 New Moon: April 27
A micromoon is a full moon or new moon that is near apogee, which is the point in the moon's orbit where it is farthest away from Earth, according to NASA. The distance is about 251,000 miles.
A micromoon appears smaller and dimmer in the night sky, but the differences may be hard to notice with the naked eye, the Associated Press reported.
A supermoon is the opposite of a micromoon. A supermoon is a full moon or new moon that happens near perigee, which is the point in the moon's orbit where it is closest to Earth, according to NASA. The distance is about 224,000 miles.
In 2025, the Lyrids meteor shower will be active from April 17 to April 26, according to NASA. Its peak nights will be April 21 and April 22.
"The Lyrids are known for their fast and bright meteors," according to NASA's website. "Though not as fast or as plentiful as the famous Perseids in August, Lyrids can surprise watchers with as many as 100 meteors seen per hour."
The first recorded sighting of the Lyrids was in 687 B.C. by Chinese stargazers, according to NASA.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: How, when to watch April 2025 full moon, pink moon in Washington
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