Full Pink ‘micromoon’ rises this Sunday
The smallest, dullest and farthest full moon of 2025 will rise this Sunday.
The “Pink Moon”, so named by Indian tribes after spring wildflowers of that colour, is considered the smallest full moon of the year because it occurs at apogee, the point where the moon is farthest from Earth.
This weekend’s moon will reach a maximum distance of 406,000 kilometers from Earth, a full 50,000 kilometres farther away than the Super (Cold) Moon on 5 November.
The Pink Moon also is referred to as the Paschal Moon in Christianity if it occurs after the spring equinox, which it does this year.
The full moon in Ireland will occur on Sunday at 1:22 am and will appear full for about a day before and after this moment, making it visible in all its glory over the weekend.
It will rise in the constellation Virgo, near the bright star Spica, which will appear as a sparkling dot to the moon’s left or upper-left from Ireland’s perspective.
While the moon itself won’t be pink, it might take on a golden or orange hue when low on the horizon due to the “moon illusion” and atmospheric scattering.
This illusion makes the moon appear larger near the horizon, creating a striking view at moonrise.
