10-05-2025
Is there a full moon today? Why May's Flower Moon may appear smaller to you
Just a day after Mother's Day comes the May full moon known as the Flower Moon, a micromoon that may appear smaller but is no less worthy of viewing.
A full moon is referred to as a micromoon when it occurs around apogee, the point in the moon's orbit farthest from Earth, according to Time and Date. As a result, it can look around 6% to 7% smaller than the average full moon.
Californians can enjoy the full moon, known as the Flower Moon, on Monday, May 12. The moon will appear full for a couple of days, said NASA, so you do have some time to look up at the sky.
The name of this month's moon is thanks to the flowers that bloom across North America in May, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, which traced back the name to Indigenous peoples. Other names for the full moon in May include the Budding Moon and the Planting Moon.
Come June 11 is the Strawberry Moon. While the name may evoke a red-hued moon, it's because Native American tribes used this Strawberry Moon name to mark the ripening of strawberries ready to be gathered, said the Almanac, although there are other names used for June's full moon.
Here are the rest of the full moons for 2025:
June 11: Strawberry Moon.
July 10: Buck Moon.
Aug. 9: Sturgeon Moon.
Sept. 7: Harvest Moon.
Oct. 6: Hunter's Moon.
Nov. 5: Beaver Moon.
Dec. 4: Cold Moon.
Arizona Republic reporter Tiffany Acosta contributed to this article.
Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Is it a full moon tonight? Flower Moon comes right after Mother's Day
