Why does the moon look orange?
Spring is in full swing with blue skies, warmer days, colourful parks, and if you noticed, the moon is also starting to look particularly big and orange.
Sometimes there’s a special reason for the moon to go orange – like a total lunar eclipse – but that isn’t scheduled to take place until September 7.
So what is causing the moon to go orange?
In sharp contrast to its beautiful silvery tint while high in the sky, the moon appears drab and noticeably orange when it is low above the horizon.
As with a sunset, the earth’s atmosphere scatters short-wavelength blue light while letting longer-wavelength reddish light pass through, giving the moon a subdued orange hue instead of the glaring white colour when it’s high up.
There are specific regions on the moon that are truly orange in colour; Wood’s Spot, a distinctly orange patch next to the brilliant crater Aristarchus, can be seen through binoculars.
Because the Earth’s atmosphere reflects longer wavelengths of sunlight onto the eclipsed moon, the moon also seems to turn orange or crimson during a total lunar eclipse.
The orange moon appears days before the next full moon, Pink Moon, which will peak on Sunday, April 13, at 00:22 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Although each full moon is unique, this month’s is particularly noteworthy because Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, is close by.
Your position on Earth will determine exactly where it will look in reference to the moon. Spica will be visible from Europe in the lower left, but April 13, is the ideal time to observe it because the moon will already be in the sky at sunset.
Why is it called April’s Pink Moon?
Each of the twelve to thirteen full moons that we get to see each year has a unique name and significance. Native American culture is the source of the moon monikers. With full moons acting as timestamps, tribes utilised the lunar cycles to keep track of the seasons, assigning each one an identifier associated with a natural event.
Its name comes from creeping phlox, a pink wildflower that, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, blooms the earliest in spring in parts of North America.
The Pink Moon in 2025 is also known as the “Paschal Moon”, which determines the date on which the resurrection of Jesus is celebrated.
Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon in spring. The full moon will appear either on April 12 or 13 depending on where you are located around the world, therefore, Easter will fall on April 20 this year, as it’s the first Sunday after the full moon.
The first full moon in spring also coincides with the start of the Jewish holiday Passover, which falls on April 12 this year.
How to see April’s Pink Moon
As the moon rises, the best places to see it are in an open field or high places with a clear view of the eastern horizon.
While sky-gazers can see the full moon with their unaided eyes, they will get a clearer vision with binoculars or a telescope.
What this means astrologically
We are in the season of Aries and Libra, two opposite signs, and the April full moon will bring attraction and possibly even estrangement between them.
Libra energy looks for collaboration, whereas Aries energy promotes independence. But Libra also represents equality and fairness. The full moon in April is therefore a great time to look at your relationships, test limits, and consider whether your life needs more balance.
Is there someone causing you to lose your equilibrium? It might be time to establish some distance.
Additionally, it’s time to unwind and make more composed choices regarding appearance and mental health.
Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and pleasure, rules Libra. Decorate your house, talk to yourself lovingly, and, if you can, take a break and prioritise your own healing.
