Flower Moon in 2026
When it occurs: May’s full moon—traditionally known as the Flower Moon—will fall on Friday, May 1, 2026. It will reach peak illumination at 17:23 UTC (1:23 p.m. EDT).
When to see: Look for the Flower Moon rising in the east around sunset on May 1, 2026. It will reach its highest point in the sky around midnight and set in the west around sunrise on May 2, 2026.
Flower Moon near Zubenelgenubi: The 2026 Flower Moon will appear to the right of the bright star Zubenelgenubi after darkness falls, and below Zubenelgenubi around midnight. Zubenelgenubi is the second-brightest star in the constellation Libra, the Scales.
Flower Moon lies in Libra: The 2026 Flower Moon will lie in front of the zodiac constellation Libra, the Scales.
Flower Moon is a micromoon: The 2026 Flower Moon will be a micromoon, as it will occur near its apogee—the farthest point from Earth in its elliptical orbit. The Flower Moon will be about 402,003 km away, compared to the moon’s average distance of 384,400 km. It may appear slightly smaller and dimmer than typical full moons.
First full moon in May: The 2026 Flower Moon is the first of two full moons in May. A second full moon—a Blue Moon—will occur on May 31, 2026.
Why is May’s full moon called the Flower Moon?
May’s full moon is traditionally known as the Flower Moon because it marks the time of year when flowers bloom abundantly during the peak of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
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