Matthew Hunt/CC BY 2.0/Flickr
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When May’s full moon blooms on Monday evening, May 12, it’ll come with a twist. Nicknamed the Flower Moon, this one will also appear to be a little bit smaller than usual.
Don’t panic, skywatchers. As with most cosmic quirks, there’s a perfectly reasonable scientific explanation.
This full moon is called a micromoon, which occurs a couple of times a year when the moon is full and at its farthest point from the Earth. And while it’s not as visually impressive as a supermoon, it’s still a cool astronomical event.
Here’s when to catch the Flower Moon tonight where to look in the sky and how it got its floral nickname.
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Is there a full moon tonight?
The May 2025 full moon will occur on Monday evening.
Why is May’s full moon unique?
The May 2025 full moon is also considered to be a micromoon and will appear to be smaller and dimmer than normal.
What time is the full moon in Arizona?
The full moon will rise at 7:47 p.m. on Monday night, according to the website Time and Date. It will reach its highest point in the sky at 12:06 a.m. on early Tuesday morning before setting at 5:45 a.m.
Where will the Flower Moon be visible?
The full moon will rise in the eastern/southeastern sky and then gradually move to the southern sky as the evening goes on. A photo of the full moon over Tucson in spring 2023.
What is a micromoon?
A micromoon occurs when the moon is at apogee – or its farthest point from Earth – so it will appear to be slightly smaller and dimmer than usual. It’s the opposite of a supermoon and happens a couple of times per year.
How much smaller is May’s full moon?
The Time and Date website states that the May 2025 full moon will be approximately 6% to 7% smaller than normal.
Why is the May full moon called a Flower Moon?
May’s full moon gets its name because it shows up right when everything – especially flowers – is blooming like crazy. The moniker originates from the Algonquin and Ojibwe peoples and was later popularized by the Farmers’ Almanac. (Fun fact: it also goes by other plant-based nicknames, like the Corn Moon or Planting Moon.)
