Flower Moon in May 2026: The First of Two May Full Moons
May 2026 is the month of two Full Moons! Meet the first one, called the Flower Moon, on May 1. For the best view, simply find an open spot and watch as it rises above the horizon. This is when it will appear at its largest and take on a golden hue! Get the exact time for your location with the free astronomy app Sky Tonight.
Contents
- May 2026 Moon Dates & Time
- May Full Moon in Libra
- Flower Moon: Spiritual Meaning
- May Micromoon
- When is the next Full Moon?
- May Full Moon 2026: Key takeaways
May 2026 Moon Dates & Time
May Moon phases 2026
- Full Moon: May 1, 17:23 GMT
- Last Quarter: May 9, 21:11 GMT
- New Moon: May 16, 20:01 GMT
- First Quarter: May 23, 11:11 GMT
- Full Moon (Blue Moon): May 31, 08:45 GMT
Did you know? While the Full Moon is a stunning sight on its own, the best time to view the Moon through a telescope or binoculars is during its quarter phases! At these times, the Moon isn't overly bright, and the shadows cast across its surface reveal more detail.
When is the Full Moon in May 2026?
The Moon will reach its full phase on May 1, 2026, at 17:23 GMT. At that moment, our natural satellite will be positioned in the constellation Libra. By the way, you don't have to strictly follow the timing to enjoy the beauty of our natural satellite: to the naked eye, the Moon will appear round and bright the day before and after reaching the full phase. You can see how the Moon will look in the sky on any chosen date in the Sky Tonight app: tap the calendar icon, open the Moon tab, and select any date. You will see an accurate 3D image of the Moon, which reflects the angular size and orientation of the real Moon as seen from your location.
When is the New Moon in May 2026?
The New Moon in May 2026 will occur on May 16 at 20:01 GMT. During this phase, the Moon becomes invisible in the night sky, creating perfect conditions for stargazing. With no moonlight interfering, fainter celestial objects will appear more vivid. If you’re planning observations, this is the ideal time to explore star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies with binoculars or a telescope.
May Full Moon in Libra
The May Full Moon can appear in either Scorpius or Libra, depending on the year. In 2026, it will shine in the constellation Libra.
Astrologers claim that the Full Moon on May 1 is in the sign of Scorpio, but zodiac signs and zodiac constellations don’t always match up. Curious why? Check out our zodiac infographic to better understand the difference.
Bright star next to the May Full Moon
The day before the May Full Moon, on April 30, the Moon will pass near Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. The two objects will be closest to each other at 08:17 GMT, at a distance of 2°. You will easily distinguish Spica by its bluish glow. Both objects will be visible to the naked eye.
At the Full Moon date, the Moon will be located in the constellation Libra, which doesn’t host any bright first-magnitude stars. However, you can spot Zubenelgenubi, a second-magnitude star and the brightest in Libra, shining nearby.
By May 3, the Moon will move into Scorpius, where it will pass close to the reddish star Antares (mag 1.1), often called the "heart of the scorpion." The closest approach between the two will occur on May 4, at 02:20 GMT.
To easily find Antares in the sky, use the Sky Tonight app. You can also learn what planets are close to the Moon from our dedicated article.
Flower Moon: Spiritual Meaning
The Flower Moon is one of the most popular names for the May Full Moon. Why is it called so? The answer is easy to guess: in the Northern Hemisphere, May is a blooming season for many flowers. Delighted by the beauty of the blossoming nature, the Native Americans named a Full Moon after it. If you look through all the Full Moon names, you’ll see that they are somehow connected to the features of nature typical for a particular month.
Astrologers believe that the Flower Moon signifies a perfect time to let out your deepest feelings and become more vulnerable. They also believe that May’s Full Moon is influenced by the sign Scorpio. However, in 2026, the May Full Moon will be located in Libra. You can check the Moon’s location yourself using Sky Tonight or Star Walk 2.
May Full Moon alternative names
People in different parts of the world used to give various names to the May Full Moon. Let’s take a look at some of them:
- Chinese: Dragon Moon;
- Celtic: Bright Moon;
- Wiccan: Hare Moon;
- Cherokee: Planting Moon;
- Southern Hemisphere: Beaver Moon, Frost Moon.
May Micromoon
May’s Full Moon will occur near its farthest point from Earth, a position called apogee. Because of this, it will appear about 5% smaller and 10% dimmer than an average Full Moon, making it a Micromoon — the opposite of a Supermoon. Curious about how Micromoons compare to Supermoons? Check out our infographic on these lunar events!
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon after the Flower Moon will occur on May 31, 2026, at 08:45 GMT. It will be the second Full Moon in a single month, a relatively rare event known as a Blue Moon. This happens because the Moon’s cycle of 29.5 days is slightly shorter than the length of a calendar month. Curious about how often Blue Moons appear? Check out our detailed article on the Blue Moons.
Stay tuned for notifications in the Sky Tonight app and follow us on social media, so you won’t miss the next Full Moon!
When is the next Flower Moon?
The Flower Moon is the Full Moon that occurs in May. However, the second May Full Moon doesn’t take this title – it’s called a Blue Moon. So the next Flower Moon after May 1, 2026, will take place next year — on May 20, 2027, at 10:59 GMT.
May Full Moon 2026: Key takeaways
The May Full Moon will take place on May 1, 2026, at 17:23 GMT. It is named the Flower Moon after the flowers that bloom during this month. It's also not the only Full Moon that will be seen this month. The second one, called the Blue Moon, will occur on May 31 at 8:45 GMT. Use the Sky Tonight or Star Walk 2 app to learn the Moon’s current phase and position in the sky. We wish you clear skies and happy Moon-gazing!
