Full Moon in May 2024: What Does the Flower Moon Mean?
See the May Full Moon! It will occur on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Get the free Sky Tonight app to easily navigate the night sky. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the May 2024 Moon.
Contents
- When is the Full Moon in May 2024?
- Flower Moon meaning
- When is the next Full Moon?
- Flower Moon 2024: Key takeaways
When is the Full Moon in May 2024?
The Moon will reach its full phase on May 23, 2024, at 13:53 GMT (9:53 a.m. EDT). At that moment, our natural satellite will be positioned in the constellation Scorpius. 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.
May Moon phases 2024
- Last Quarter Moon: May 1, 11:27 GMT (7:27 a.m. EDT)
- New Moon: May 8, 03:22 GMT (May 7, 11:22 p.m. EDT)
- First Quarter Moon: May 15, 11:48 GMT (7:48 a.m. EDT)
- Full Moon: May 23, 13:53 GMT (9:53 a.m. EDT)
- Last Quarter Moon: May 30, 17:13 GMT (1:13 p.m. EDT)
What is the bright dot next to the Moon tonight?
The brightest dot near the May Full Moon will be the reddish star Antares (mag 1.1), often referred to as “the heart of the scorpion”. 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 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. Сheck out our colorful infographic and see for yourself!
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. In 2024, May’s Full Moon will indeed be positioned in the constellation Scorpius (however, the constellation may vary from year to year). 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 make up various names for 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.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will occur on June 2, 2024, at 01:08 GMT (June 1, 2024, 9:08 p.m. EDT); it is commonly called the Strawberry Moon. Stay tuned for notifications in the Sky Tonight app and follow us on social media, so you won’t miss it! To learn about all the Full Moons of 2024, read our Full Moons Calendar.
When is the next Flower Moon?
The Flower Moon is the Full Moon that occurs in May, so the next Flower Moon after May 23, 2024, will take place next year — on May 12, 2025, at 16:56 GMT (10:56 a.m. EDT).
Flower Moon 2024: Key takeaways
The May Full Moon will take place on May 23, 2024, at 13:53 GMT (9:53 a.m. EDT). It is named the Flower Moon — after the flowers that bloom during this month. 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!
