When to see the breathtaking full moon in May
It won't be visible for another two years
A spectacular Blue Flower Moon will light up the sky on Thursday 7th May 2020 — and you certainly don't want to miss it.
This year has seen some incredible celestial events already, from March's full Worm Moon to the beautiful Pink Moon in April, and a shining full Snow Moon in February. And May's Flower Moon is set to be just as impressive.
When can we see the Blue Flower Moon?
"Being in orbit around the Earth, the Moon seems to drift with respect to the background of distant stars: a week later, having waned a bit, you'll be better off trying to see the Moon in the early hours of the morning (where it won't be too far from Jupiter in the sky)," Edward Bloomer, Planetarium Astronomer at Royal Observatory Greenwich tells Country Living.
The moon will be seen clearly on a cloudless night, so head outside to look up for a glimpse. With less air pollution this year thanks to lockdown, we're hoping it will be clearer than ever.
What is a Blue Moon?
You may be familiar with the saying 'once in a blue moon', but how often do we actually see them?
"The full moon itself is, strictly speaking, just a moment in time when the Earthwards face of the moon is fully illuminated by sunlight. Nevertheless, on the seventh itself, the Moon will be rising in the south-east as the Sun sets," Edward tells us.
There are two types of Blue Moons which can appear. These are...
The seasonal blue moon
This one is the third full moon in an astronomical season with four full moons.The monthly blue moon
This one is the second full moon in a month with two full moons.
Why is it called a 'Flower' Moon?
Known as the Blue 'Flower' Moon, May's moon was named so by native American tribes because it appears during spring when flowers start to blossom.
It can also be referred to as a Mother’s Moon, Milk Moon, or Corn Planting Moon.
"There are other names given to it, but with Spring in full swing here in the UK, we'll be hoping for abundant flowering!"
Not sure how to start stargazing? Read our expert guide, then plan a trip to one of the UK's best stargazing spots.
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