This Sunday, 13th April 2025, the full moon known as the Pink Moon will reach its peak visibility at 1:22am (Canary Islands time), offering skywatchers a stunning celestial display ideal for capturing on a mobile phone.
Despite its evocative name, the Pink Moon will not actually appear pink in the sky. The name originates from Native American Algonquin tribes, who associated this springtime moon with the blossoming of Phlox subulata, a pink wildflower that typically blooms around the same time.
The moon will retain its usual hue, though it may appear particularly luminous due to its position near the lunar apogee, the point in its orbit farthest from Earth.
The full moon will be visible from the early hours of Sunday morning and remain prominent until dawn. With 100% illumination, it should be easily visible even with standard smartphone cameras.
For those looking to get the best photographic results, using a phone’s manual camera mode — adjusting exposure to avoid overexposing the bright lunar surface — is recommended. Applications such as Sky Tonight can also assist in tracking the moon's position throughout the night.
Adding to the visual spectacle, the Pink Moon will appear in the constellation Virgo, close to the bright star Spica, offering an additional celestial feature for those seeking a more artistic or compositional element in their images.
Beyond its visual allure, the Pink Moon also plays a significant cultural role. It determines the date of Easter in 2025, as the liturgical calendar places the holiday on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the March equinox.
Looking ahead, stargazers can anticipate further photographic opportunities with upcoming full moons, such as the Flower Moon on 12th May and the Strawberry Moon on 11th June — each one a chance to enjoy the night sky’s wonders with the aid of modern mobile technology.
