This year’s Flower Moon will offer stargazers a unique spectacle with the added bonus of a lunar eclipse. In May, the full moon is often referred to as the Flower Moon due to the profusion of flowers that emerge during the Northern Hemisphere’s spring season.
A flower moon happens during spring time when the flowers are hitting their peak bloom, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
This year, the Flower Moon coincides with a penumbral lunar eclipse, a phenomenon in which the moon passes through the outer part of Earth’s shadow, causing it to slightly darken, according to NASA. From Thursday morning to Sunday morning, the moon will appear full.
The moon will appear opposite the sun at 1:34 p.m. EDT, NASA said, which is when it will reach its peak brightness. The moon will be below the horizon in the U.S. at that time, however, so the Farmer’s Almanac suggests spectators venture outdoors on Thursday and Friday nights to get the best view of the full moon.
The moon will enter a penumbral lunar eclipse on May 5 at 11:14 a.m. ET, according to NASA.
PENUMBRAL LUNAR ECLIPSE 🤩
Tonight, we will witness a penumbral lunar eclipse that will start at 11:14 PM PhST (May 5) until 3:31 AM PhST (May 6). But, its appearance might not be much different from the usual Full Moon. #AstroShaker #WeLookUpAsOne #PenumbralLunarEclipse pic.twitter.com/zYwNeAU0uy
— Earth Shaker PH 🌏 (@earthshakerph) May 5, 2023