May's full 'Flower Moon' will light up the sky on Friday 1 May
Summary
The full Moon on May 1, 2026, called the Flower Moon, will appear in the night sky. This full Moon will be slightly smaller because it occurs when the Moon is farthest from Earth, a point called apogee. If people miss this, there will be another full Moon on May 31, known as a Blue Moon.Key Facts
- The Flower Moon will be full at 18:23 on Friday, May 1, 2026.
- The name "Flower Moon" comes from May being the month when many flowers bloom.
- This Flower Moon is a "micromoon," meaning it appears slightly smaller because the Moon is at its farthest distance from Earth.
- The Moon’s distance from Earth varies because its orbit is elliptical, not a perfect circle.
- The difference in distance between the closest point (perigee) and the farthest point (apogee) is about 43,000 km (26,000 miles).
- The smaller size of the micromoon is hard to notice with the naked eye but is visible in photos.
- Weather may bring clouds and showers in parts of the UK on May 1, but clearer skies are expected in some areas in the evening.
- A second full Moon, called a Blue Moon, will occur on May 31, 2026, happening approximately once every two to three years.
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