Top astronomy events for May 2025
This May brings us a meteor shower visible around the world and a planetary alignment with our moon.
Tonight’s full moon is the May flower moon, shining for three days with a view of Venus. Here’s what to know about May’s special full moon and when to watch.
A full moon is one of the lunar phases where the entire visible side of the moon, facing Earth, is illuminated by the sun. It’s all about the alignment — Earth’s position is between the sun and the moon, causing the entire near side of the moon to reflect the sunlight.
Full moons happen every 29.5 days and typically once per month. On the rare occasion we get two full moons in the month it’s called a ‘blue moon’ — hence, the saying ‘once in a blue moon.’ The next one will occur on May 31, 2026.
When is the next full moon in May 2025?
The flower moon will reach peak illumination at 12:56 p.m. on May 12, 2025, according to the Almanac. The moon will also appear bright and full on Tuesday, May 13.
To catch a glimpse, find a location with unobstructed views of the horizon.
Click here to see moonrise and moonset times in your area.
What are the moon phases for May 2025?
- 🌓 First Quarter: May 4.
- 🌕 Full Moon: May 12.
- 🌗 Last Quarter: May 20.
- 🌑 New Moon: May 27.
Why is the May full moon called the flower moon?
“April showers bring May flowers,” as the saying goes. The full moon in May is a reflection of the abundant flowers blooming across large swaths of North America, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Other names for May’s full moon include the budding moon, leaf budding moon, and the planting moon, most of which allude to the awakening of local flora and marks the time for planting seeds for the farming season ahead.
What is a micro moon?
May’s full moon may look a bit smaller than average, because it will be a ‘micromoon’ or an apogee full moon.
A micro moon occurs when a full moon coincides with the point in its orbit when it’s farthest from Earth, known as apogee. As a result, the micro moon will appear about 14% smaller and 30% dimmer than usual, or when it is closest to the Earth.
When is the full moon in June 2025?
The next full moon will be the strawberry moon, which appears on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
