Mini Full Pink Paschal Moon Occults Spica (at 5:22 pm EDT)

The moon will officially reach its full phase on Saturday, April 12 at 8:22 p.m. EDT or 5:22 p.m. PDT, which converts to 00:22 GMT on Sunday. Around that time, the full moon will also pass in front of the bright star Spica for observers within a zone from Panama southeast across northern South America, and ending near the southern tip of Africa. Surrounding regions will see Spica near the moon. April’s full moon, commonly called the Pink Moon, Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, or Fish Moon, always shines in or near the stars of Virgo or Libra. The moon won’t look pink, though – the name arises from the forest wildflowers blooming in April. The indigenous Ojibwe groups of the Great Lakes region call the April full moon Iskigamizige-giizis “the Maple Sap Boiling Moon” or Namebine-giizis, “the Sucker Moon”. For them it signifies a time to learn cleansing and healing ways. The Cree of North America call it Niskipisim, “the Goose Moon” – the time when the geese return with spring. For the Mi’kmaw people of Eastern Canada, this is Penatmuiku’s, “the Birds Laying Eggs Time Moon”. The Cherokee call it Kawonuhi, “the Flower Moon”, when the plants bloom. This full moon will occur less than 23 hours before its monthly perigee, making it the smallest full moon in 2025. It’s also the Paschal Moon that controls the timing of Easter and Passover.