Flower Moon offers a celestial treat tonight, but this time it will look slightly different
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This particular moon is known as the Flower Moon because of the profusion of wildflowers that spring up this time of year. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the name can be traced back hundreds of years to the Algonquin and Ojibwe peoples, who used moon names to track the seasons.
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Usually, there are multiple names for each moon, which are based on the traditions of indigenous tribes and colonial America. The Flower Moon has also been called the Planting Moon, Frog Moon, and Egg-laying Moon.
One distinction with this Flower Moon is its appearance. It will look a bit smaller and fainter than a typical full moon because it's a micromoon, the third of three this year. That means it's the most distant: at or near the farthest point from Earth — known as apogee — along its slightly elliptical path orbiting the Earth. A micromoon is about 6 percent to 7 percent smaller than an average full moon, according to NASA.
A micromoon is about 6 percent to 7 percent smaller than an average full moon, according to NASA.
NASA
If you miss the the chance to this celestial body tonight, don't worry. The Flower Moon will be out Tuesday and Wednesday nights as well, according to Jackson.
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