Tonight, Sunday 13 April 2025, the Pink Moon will rise above the southeastern horizon, accompanied by a tantalizing stargazing perk: the bright star Spica will be close by.
Spica, one of the spring sky’s brightest stars, will make an appearance near tonight’s full Moon.
This full Moon, celebrated as the ‘Pink Moon’, marks the fourth of 2025.
Despite its name, the Pink Moon will not actually appear pink.
The moniker is derived from the blooming of colorful flowers that signal the arrival of spring.
Every monthly full Moon has garnered various nicknames over time that allude to the natural events occurring during the month.
Although tonight’s Moon is not expected to showcase a pink hue, viewers with a clear horizon might observe a more orange tint when the Moon is low in the sky.
This effect arises from Earth’s thick atmosphere, which scatters light, thereby giving the Moon a reddish appearance near the horizon.
Additionally, the low position of the Moon can create a perception of increased size, an optical illusion commonly known as the Moon illusion.
Interestingly, some have dubbed tonight’s full Moon the ‘Pink Micro Moon’.
This term is technically accurate, as the full Moon on 13 April 2025 will indeed appear smaller than usual.
Such variations are due to the Moon’s elliptical orbit around Earth, which results in differing distances from our planet at various points.
Sometimes the Moon will look larger, while at other times, it appears smaller.
The upcoming Pink Moon coincides with ‘apogee’, a phase in the Moon’s orbit when it is at its greatest distance from Earth.
A Moon at apogee can appear about 14.1% smaller and 30% dimmer compared to the Moon at ‘perigee’, when it is closest to Earth.
However, these differences are subtle and often go unnoticed by the naked eye, so there’s no need to worry about anyone claiming tonight’s Moon will look tiny!
Now, turning our attention to Spica, the bright point visible near the Moon.
This prominent star, located above and to the right of the Pink Moon, is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo.
Spica is also the 15th brightest star visible in our night sky and is actually a binary star system composed of two stars that orbit one another.
To the naked eye, these binary stars appear as a singular point of light due to their great distance from Earth.
Some binary stars can be resolved through binoculars or telescopes, allowing for the distinction of their individual stars.
However, Spica is not easily resolved, and even through a telescope, it can be challenging to discern the two stars as separate entities.
So tonight, as you gaze up at the Pink Moon and spot the bright star above and to the right, remember: you’re looking at a binary star system, not just one star.
Whether admiring the sights or delving deeper into the cosmos, tonight’s Pink Moon and its companion Spica offer a delightful celestial event for stargazers.
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