Learn about May's flower moon and when you can see it this month. Plus, June moon details
April showers made way for May flowers, and the flower moon.
Here’s what to know about May’s full moon.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon, a flower moon, will be visible on May 23 at 9:53 a.m., according to TimeandDate.com.
Ahead of the full moon, the new moon will appear on May 7 at 11:22 p.m., followed by the first quarter moon on May 15 at 7:48 a.m. and the last quarter moon on May 30 at 3:13 p.m. A last quarter moon was also visible on May 1 at 7:27 a.m., according to Almanac.
What is a flower moon?
The full moon in May is called the flower moon and symbolizes the flowers that bloom during the month, according to TimeandDate.com.
May’s brightest moon phase is also known as the “milk moon” from the Old English word “rimilcemona,” which means three-milkings-month and signifies the cows that were milked three times a day during this time of year.
Other Celtic and Old English names for May’s full moon include “mothers’ moon,” “hare moon” and “grass moon.” Native American names for the month’s full moon are the “egg-laying moon” and “planting moon.”
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June full moon
Looking ahead, June’s full moon is called the “strawberry moon,” named after the small wild strawberries that ripen at this time of the year. It will be visible on June 21, according to Almanac.
The strawberry moon is also known as the “hot moon,” “green corn moon” and “berries ripen moon” to Native American tribes; the “horse moon,” “rose moon” and “dyan moon” in Celtic culture; and the “mead moon” to Anglo-Saxons, a nod to the moon occurring during a time of year meant for mowing the meads, or meadows, according to TimeandDate.com.
Around every 20 years, the strawberry moon coincides with the summer solstice, occurring on either June 20, 21 or 22.
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