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May's full 'Flower Moon' will light up the sky on Friday 1 May
TL;DR
May's full Flower Moon will shine on Friday, 1 May, peaking at 18:23. This micromoon appears slightly smaller than usual and marks the blooming season of flowers.
Key points
- May's full Moon is called the Flower Moon
- It will be at its fullest at 18:23 on 1 May
- This full Moon is a micromoon, appearing smaller than usual
- The Flower Moon signifies the blooming of flowers in spring
- A Blue Moon will occur at the end of May
May's full Moon is set to illuminate the night sky on Friday 1 May.
Known as the Flower Moon, it will be at its fullest at 18:23.
The term Flower Moon is thought to be a reference to the fact that May is when flowers begin to bloom in earnest with spring well and truly in full swing.
This full Moon is known as a 'micromoon' appearing slightly smaller than usual.
If you miss the opportunity to spot the Flower Moon, there will be a rare second full Moon opportunity at the tail end of the month, known as a Blue Moon.
Image caption,
The Flower Moon in 2025 was on 12 May as captured by a Weather Watcher in Sheerness, Kent
What is a micromoon?
The Moon's monthly orbit around Earth is slightly elliptical rather than circular, which means its distance from us varies and so not all full Moons are the same.
When this year's Flower Moon becomes full it will be close to its maximum distance from Earth - a point known as apogee.
That means this year's Flower Moon will appear slightly smaller than usual because it is at the farthest point from Earth in its orbit - roughly 406,000km (252,000 miles) away.
The difference between apogee and perigee is approximately 43,000km (26,000 miles) - sounds huge, but to the naked eye the change is barely noticeable except in photographs.
The overall effect is that a micromoon appears slightly smaller in the sky and may be a touch less bright than average.
Will the weather spoil our view?
Q&A
What time will the Flower Moon be at its fullest on 1 May?
The Flower Moon will reach its fullest at 18:23 on 1 May.
What is a micromoon and how does it relate to the Flower Moon?
A micromoon is a full moon that appears slightly smaller than usual, and this month's Flower Moon is classified as such.
What is a Blue Moon and when will it occur this month?
A Blue Moon, which is a rare second full moon in a month, will occur at the end of May.
