Flower Moon: When you can see the last full moon of spring

The last full moon of spring, which is called the Flower Moon, occurs on Thursday night.

In fact, if we’re splitting hairs, NASA set the official full moon, its brightest point, at 9:53 a.m. Thursday. However, the author of NASA’s Skywatching Guide, a retired NASA program executive, wrote that there is no need to rush.

“The moon will be full for about three days around this time, Tuesday night through Friday night,” wrote Gordon Johnson.

However, NASA astronomers captured it at its best.

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Another treat for stargazers, the star Antares will be kissing the Moon.

“Thursday night, the bright star Antares will appear so close to the Moon that for the Washington, DC area, the Moon will pass in front of Antares, blocking it from view, although the glare of the full moon will make viewing difficult. the star disappears behind the moon,” Johnston wrote.

The May full moon is called the Flower Moon. The Maine Farmer’s Almanac began publishing Native American names for the full moon in the 1930s, and Flower Moon stuck, according to NASA. The Algonquin tribes named it for the abundant flowers this time of year throughout the northeastern US.

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Here’s the “full” flower moon as it rose behind the Statue of Liberty at dusk in New York City on May 22, 2024, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey.

(Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

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Another Native American name for the May stunner is the Corn Moon or Corn Planting Moon. As the name suggests, it occurs during the time of year when farmers plant corn.

The Old English name for May’s Full Moon is the Milk Moon.

“In 703 AD, the English monk St. Bede the Venerable wrote that what we now call May was the ‘Month of the Three Milkings,’ apparently because that was the month when cows could be milked three times a day,” Johnston commented. .

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Thursday night sky conditions for viewing the Flower Moon.

(FOX Weather)

Of course, seeing the Moon depends on the weather. According to the FOX Weather Center, Mother Nature is smiling down on you in the interior West, the Four Corners States, and the central and southern Plains. Clouds may be a problem for the northern plains, mid-south and Appalachia.

The next full moon will be the first of summer. The summer solstice is officially at 4:51 PM EDT on June 20. This is also the day with the longest period of sunlight – 14 hours, 53 minutes, 42.5 seconds, according to Johnston. The full moon occurs the next day at 9:08 p.m. EDT, but Johnston said most calendars list the full moon on June 22. Again, it will be visible for about three days.