Easter is Coming Late in 2025: Astronomical Explanation

Full Moon and Easter Connection

• Easter falls on the Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox.
• The full moon on April 12, 2025, is called the "Pink Full Moon" due to the blooming of Phlox subulata, not because of its color.

Paschal Moon and Its Importance

• The Paschal Moon sets the date for the start of the Hebrew Passover and the Christian Easter.
• The full moon on April 12, 2025, serves as the Paschal Moon.

Dating Easter: Ecclesiastical vs. Astronomical

• Easter's date can sometimes diverge from astronomical data due to ecclesiastical rules:
  • The vernal equinox is fixed at March 21 by ecclesiastical rules, despite astronomical variation.
  • The Paschal Full Moon is determined by ecclesiastical tables, not real-time astronomical data.
• Jean Meeus noted discrepancies between ecclesiastical and astronomical dates—Easter can fall on a "wrong" date astronomically.

Other Easter Dating Oddities

• The earliest Easter can be is March 22 (last in 1818, next in 2285).
• The latest possible Easter is April 25.
• March Easter dates are "isolated" between Aprils.
• The Gregorian calendar can have 10 consecutive Easters in April, predicted to occur in the 29th century.
• From 2000-2999, Easter most frequently falls on April 16.

Why 2025 Easter is Late

• North America observes the Paschal full moon on April 12, 2025.
• "The Old World" sees this moon after midnight on April 13, affecting Easter Sunday calculations.
• Easter is celebrated on April 20, 2025, for alignment with European longitudes.

Author Information

• Joe Rao: Skywatching columnist, guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium, writer for various publications.
• Connect with Joe for more astronomical insights and events.