How to see May’s full flower moon
Context:
May's full moon, known as the flower moon, will be visible on Sunday night despite being a micromoon, appearing at its fullest at 12:56 p.m. ET on Monday. This moon is the last in a series of micromoons for the year, occurring when the moon is farthest from Earth, making it appear smaller. Different indigenous tribes have unique names for this full moon, such as the mulberry moon or the frog moon. Upcoming celestial events include seven more full moons in 2025, with supermoons in October, November, and December, as well as two eclipse events in September. A total lunar eclipse will be visible in various parts of the world on September 7 and 8, while a partial solar eclipse will be visible in remote areas on September 21.
Dive Deeper:
May's full moon, called the flower moon, symbolizes the spring's bloom and is a micromoon, appearing smaller due to its distance from Earth, which will be 251,939 miles compared to the average distance of 238,855 miles.
The flower moon is the third and final micromoon of the year, set to rise in the southeast after sunset on Monday and reach its peak after midnight.
Various indigenous tribes have distinct names for this full moon, including the mulberry moon by the Creek and Choctaw, the frog moon by the Cree, and the blossom moon by the Anishnaabe.
Looking ahead to 2025, there are seven more full moons with notable supermoons in October, November, and December, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
A total lunar eclipse on September 7 and 8 will be visible from continents such as Europe, Africa, and Asia, and is characterized by the moon passing into Earth's shadow, taking on a reddish hue known as the blood moon.
On September 21, a partial solar eclipse will occur as the moon partially covers the sun, appearing as though the moon is taking a 'bite' out of the sun, and will be visible in remote areas of Australia, Antarctica, and the Pacific Ocean.
These celestial events provide opportunities for stargazers to witness the beauty and complexity of lunar and solar interactions with Earth, further explained through scientific insights from NASA and other sources.