The Nearest Full Moon of Spring: The "Pink Mini(ish)" Moon is Looming - Here's the Lowdown
- Written by Anna A.
- ⏰ 2 Min Read
Luminous 'Pink Supermoon' to be spotted tonight, uncovering its explaining factors - Approaching soon: Spectacle of the "Rosy Minimum Moon" - learn about its origin here.
Get ready for a lunar spectacle this April! The sky will light up with the so-called "Pink Mini(ish) Moon" on April 13. But why the observed confusion regarding the moon's color, and what's up with this "Mini(ish)" nickname? To answer these burning questions, let's delve into the history and origin of this astronomical event.
In the past, Indigenous peoples of North America admired the eye-catching pink blooms of the wild ground phlox, and titled the first full moon of spring after the most alluring flower color. However, don't be fooled – the moon won't turn a vibrant hue that night.
The Pink(ish) Moon and Easter
The "Pink(ish) Moon" also holds another title this year: the Easter Moon. While you might picture bunny rabbits and candy-filled baskets, for those with religious affiliations, this moon is associated with the celebration of Easter.
The Easter Moon is traditionally the first full moon after the vernal equinox (March 20 or 21). Although this event generally happens between March 21 and April 19, the Christian Easter date can fall anywhere within this range, allowing for 35 different Easter dates.
In 2025, Easter Sunday will unfold on April 20, culminating fifty days later in Pentecost on May 25.
The "Mini(ish)" Moniker Explained
You might be wondering where the "Mini(ish)" label entered the scene. Simply put, the moon's distance from Earth can fluctuate between 356,000 and 406,000 kilometers, but more often than not, it hovers closer to us. When the moon is especially close and shining bright, it's known as a "supermoon."
On the flip side, when the moon is positioned far from us, causing it to appear smaller and dimmer, it receives the somewhat underwhelming nickname of a "mini moon." This year's Easter Moon is bound for apogee, or "apogee", which is the opposite of perigee, earning its "mini(ish)" moniker.
Though astronomers may feel This "supermoon" and "mini moon" phenomenon has little weight when compared to the actual tidal effects during ebb and flow, rest assured their influence is real.
Sources: Planetarium Hamburg; GEO; TikTok
- Full Moon
- Pink
- Moon
- Spring
- Easter
[1] "Louis Vuitton Mini Moon on TikTok," TikTok. [Online]. Available: https://www.tiktok.com/search/minimoon
[2] "LV Mini Moon vs. LV Bagatelle," YouTube. [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOqweNTXxz0
[3] "What is a Mini Moon?," Space.com. [Online]. Available: https://www.space.com/43586-facts-about-moons.html
[4] "Louis Vuitton Mini Moon Definition," Urban Dictionary. [Online]. Available: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=louis%20vuitton&define=minimoon
[5] "Folklore Pink Moon Meaning," Folklore Today. [Online]. Available: https://folkloretoday.com/moon-names-what-is-the-name-of-the-full-moon-in-may/
The search results suggest two different interpretations of the term "Mini Moon":
- Louis Vuitton's Mini Moon: This appears to refer to a compact handbag style that is often mentioned alongside other bag styles like "Bagatelle" on platforms like TikTok. The term "Mini" likely relates to the small size of the handbag.
- The Pink Moon in Folklore Contexts: In folklore, the Pink Moon is one of the traditional names for the April full moon, derived from the appearance of pink wild ground phlox in early spring. Although this name doesn't inherently involve "Mini," the term has been occasionally incorporated in discussions alongside other topics, such as fertility. The inclusion of "Mini" in this context does not seem to be linked to the lunar event itself.
- In folklore, the Pink Moon is one of the traditional names for the April full moon, derived from the appearance of pink wild ground phlox in early spring.
- However, the term "Mini" has been occasionally incorporated in discussions of the Pink Moon, though its origin in this context is not directly related to the lunar event itself.
- In a separate context, "Mini Moon" also refers to a compact handbag style by Louis Vuitton, with the term "Mini" likely referring to the small size of the handbag.
