The Moon has been a critical part of human societies from the very beginning, and it is still a staple in our night skies today. However, between blood moons, supermoons, and ocean tides, there is more to a full moon than immediately meets the eye.
When Is the Next Full Moon?
The next full moon will be on April 12th, 2025 at 8:22 PM Eastern time, or April 13th, 0:22 GMT.
April’s full moon is sometimes called a “Pink Moon” because it corresponds with the season that phlox subulata, a pink flower native to North America, blooms. Disappointingly, the moon itself won’t be pink.
April 12th’s full moon is also near apogee, which means it occurs when the Moon is at the most distant point in its orbit.
It’ll be slightly smaller than a regular full moon, and noticeably smaller than a full moon at perigee (a supermoon). However, the difference is subtle, and unless you look carefully, you probably won’t notice the difference. U.S. coins can provide a helpful comparison if you’re familiar with them—the difference in size between the moon at perigee (supermoon) and the moon at apogee is about the same as a quarter and a nickel.
When Are the Full Moons for 2025?
There are typically 12 full moons per year, though some years have 13, depending on whether there is a blue moon.
There will be 12 full moons in 2025, but that includes two total eclipses and three supermoons.
|
Date |
Special Name |
Special Features |
|---|---|---|
|
1/13/2025 |
Wolf Moon |
|
|
2/12/2025 |
Snow Moon |
|
|
3/14/2025 |
Worm Moon |
Total Lunar Eclipse |
|
4/12/2025 |
Pink Moon |
Apogee |
|
5/12/2025 |
Flower Moon |
Apogee |
|
6/11/2025 |
Strawberry Moon |
|
|
7/10/2025 |
Buck Moon |
Total Lunar Eclipse |
|
8/9/2025 |
Sturgeon Moon |
|
|
9/7/2025 |
Full Corn Moon |
|
|
10/7/2025 |
Hunter’s Moon |
Perigee (Supermoon) |
|
11/5/2025 |
Beaver Moon |
Perigee (Supermoon) |
|
12/4/2025 |
Cold Moon |
Perigee (Supermoon) |
How and Why Do Lunar Eclipses Occur?
A cosmic alignment between the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon—plus a bit of lucky timing.
How to View the Full Moon?
The full moon is readily visible to the unaided eye, and you really don’t need anything special to view it.
However, if you want to get a better view, you have two main options: binoculars or a telescope.
Even an entry-level pair of binoculars (which typically provide 10x magnification) will let you get a better look at craters and other features on the surface of the Moon.
Celestron Ultima 10×50 Binoculars
$109 $140 Save
$31
Celestron’s Ultima 10×50 binoculars are great for introductory astronomy, birding, and plenty of other hobbies.
With a maximum magnification of 10x, you can view the moon, Andromeda, many star clusters, and some of the other planets in our solar system.
On the other hand, a telescope lets you see an incredible level of detail, depending on the size of your telescope and the lens that you use. Even small telescopes gather enough light to make the full moon uncomfortable (though not damaging) to look at for more than a few seconds at a time. If you’re just looking at the Moon, you should consider buying a variable lunar filter so you can control how much light you get. If you’re planning on trying to photograph the moon, get a fixed opacity filter instead—it’ll save you a lot of trouble.
Celestron 114LCM Computerized Telescope
$380 $440 Save
$60
With a 4.49 inch (114mm) aperture and a 39 inch (1000mm) focal length, the Celestron 114LCM provides a maximum magnification of 269x—plenty to view the planets, the moon, and some deep-sky objects.
The mount is computerized, which makes finding and tracking objects of interest much easier. Once you calibrate it, you’re set!
What Effects Does a Full Moon Have?
No one will be turning into a werewolf, but the full moon’s gravity does have an interesting effect on Earth.
The Moon’s gravity is the primary source of the ocean tides we experience on Earth, but it isn’t the only thing that causes them. Despite its distance, the extraordinary mass of the Sun also causes tides on Earth, which are aptly named “solar tides.”
During a full moon, the Earth, Sun, and Moon form a nearly straight line. This causes the gravitational influence of the Sun and the Moon to add to each other, which results in higher than normal tides. If a full moon occurs when the moon is at perigee—the point in its orbit when it is closest to Earth—the effect is even greater.
If you love the Moon, be sure to be on the lookout for the lunar eclipse in August 2025. Though it won’t be visible in North or South America (except a small part of Alaska and Eastern Brazil), all of Europe, Asia, and Oceania will be able to see it.
