When is the next full moon? How to see May's flower moon and Eta Aquariid meteor shower
May flowers are here, and so is the flower moon.
The latest full moon will be visible in the sky on Mother's Day, giving mothers a lunar gift for the holiday.
Full moons happen every 29.5 days and typically once per month. On the rare occasion we get two full moons in the month it's called a 'blue moon' — hence, the saying 'once in a blue moon.' The next one will occur on May 31, 2026.
Here's what to know about May's full moon.
The next full moon, a flower moon, will be visible on May 12 at 12:56 p.m., according to TimeandDate.com.
May's full moon is also a micromoon.
Ahead of the full moon, a first-quarter moon will appear on May 4 at 9:52 a.m., followed by a last quarter moon on May 20 at 7:59 a.m. and a new moon on May 26 at 11:02 p.m., according to Almanac.
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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When a full moon or new moon is at its farthest point from earth, called apogee, it is known as a micromoon, the opposite of a supermoon, according to Almanac.
A micromoon looks approximately 14% smaller than a supermoon, with its illuminated area appearing 30% smaller, TimeandDate.com reports.
May's micromoon is reported to be the last one in 2025.
Aside from the full moon, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower (also written as "Eta Aquarid") will occur in early May. The meteor shower runs through May 28 after peaking on May 5 and 6.
The Eta Aquariids occur when Earth passes through debris or ice and dust left behind from Comet 1P/Halley, commonly known as Halley's Comet, hundreds of years ago, according to Starwalk.space.
'Halley's Comet is named after English astronomer Edmon Halley, who examined reports of comets approaching Earth in 1531, 1607 and 1682,' accurately predicting the return of the comet in 1758 and confirming his theory that the sightings were of the same comet. Halley's Comet takes about 76 years to orbit the sun. It will not enter the solar system again until 2061.
This comet is also the parent comet of the Orionid meteor shower in late October.
'Comet crumbs' heat up as they enter Earth's atmosphere when they pass through the comet debris, creating the shooting stars seen from below. The Eta Aquariids are known for a high percentage of persistent trains. The meteor shower produces up to 50 meteors per hour, which is more than a usual meteor shower can produce.
The meteor shower is best seen from the Southern Hemisphere. The Eta Aquariids are visible in the hours before dawn. Their radiant culminates at around 8 a.m., which leaves a short observation window between the rise of the radiant and morning twilight, according to Earthsky.org.
No special equipment is needed to watch the Lyrids meteor shower. All you need is a comfy blanket to sit on and an open sky to look up at.
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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 11 at 3:43 a.m., 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.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: When is the next full moon May 2025? How to see May's flower moon
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