'Flower Moon' of May 2025: Here's how to witness the full moon rise in the night sky
The ‘Flower Moon’ is the second full moon of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and will light up the sky on Monday, May 12, 2025. Even if somebody misses seeing it, they can catch it bright and full in the sky on the nights of May 11 and May 13, according to Newsweek. It is known to be best seen when it rises at dusk. The Flower Moon can be witnessed from a location with less pollution and clear skies. Stargazers can be at an elevated area, an open field, or a clear coastline with a proper view of the eastern horizon.
Though it is visible to the naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope can help better view the craters on the moon. The best time to view the moon would differ according to various regions. The moonrise on May 12 in New York will be at 8:31 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), while in Los Angeles, it will be at 8:15 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). This full moon will also be a "micromoon," the opposite of a "supermoon." Officially known as an apogee full moon, it occurs when the moon is farthest from Earth due to its elliptical orbit, and the Flower Moon will coincide with the apogee.
Depending on whether the moon is closest to Earth at perigee or farthest at apogee, the distance of the two will shift from the average 238,855 miles to 251,828 miles. The full moon will be visible on the horizon due to a mysterious visual perception called the moon illusion. As it rises, the moon will also have an orange tint due to the Rayleigh scattering, according to Live Science. The Flower Moon will be full on the morning of May 12 and take its name from the obvious connection with flowers blooming at this time of year," Connecticut College astronomer Professor Alex Gianninas said, per another Newsweek report.
The Egg Laying Moon and Planting Moon are some native American names that have been given to the moon. The Sucker Moon is another name for the phenomenon used by Anishinaabe, or Ojibwe, of the Great Lakes region, per Center for Native American Studies. The Anglo-Saxon name, the Milk Moon, refers to the practice of milking cows three times a day in May. Mothers' Moon, Bright Moon, Hare Moon, and Grass Moon are some other names to be added to the list, according to LiveScience. Despite the various names in one place, the cultural names for the moon vary across different regions.
The full moon that will rise after the Flower Moon is the Strawberry Moon, which will happen on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. However, this rise is best seen as it rises at dusk the day before, on Tuesday, July 10. It will be the last full moon of the astronomical spring season in the Northern Hemisphere, ending on Saturday, June 21, the June solstice, according to Forbes. Also, the moon is the last full moon of the fall season in the Southern Hemisphere, which is 11 days before the summer solstice on Saturday, June 21. For the year 2025, this Flower Moon is the fifth full moon out of a total of 12.
The solar year is typically 365.24 days, while the lunar year is around 354.37 days, which leads to certain calendars having 13 full moons. It previously happened in 2023 and is expected to happen again in the year 2028. Out of the 12 moons this year, there will be three “supermoons” and two “blood moons,” total lunar eclipses. The first happened on March 13-14 of 2025, while the next eclipse is scheduled for September 7-8 this year. The people on Earth are in for a celestial treat as the calendar is filled with exciting visuals in the sky to keep us occupied throughout the year.
