This Friday (1 May), a full Moon is set to rise across the sky, and this one is special (not just becuase its the start of the Bank Holiday weekend) but because it is a micromoon. The Moon will be visible as the sun sets on Friday afternoon with its full peak at 6:23pm BST.
What is a micromoon?
You might have heard of a supermoon, like the Wolf supermoon we experienced earlier this year, when the Moon is closer to Earth than usual, making it seem much larger.
As you might expect, a micromoon is the exact opposite of that. The Moon will appear slightly smaller than usual, as it’ll be at its furthest point from Earth in its orbit.
Why is it called a Flower Moon?
As is tradition, the different names for the full Moons come from Native American culture. This particular name reflects the time of year when flowers start to bloom, and we have spells of warmer weather.
Will I be able to see the Flower Moon?
Although the Moon will appear slightly smaller and dimmer, there is still a good chance of spotting the Flower Moon in the sky. There is some cloudy weather predicted on Friday’s forecast, but as the Moon will reach its peak early in the evening, you should be able to get a good view.
And the good news is, even if you don’t get a look at this week’s full Moon, there will be another opportunity later on in the month, which is quite a rarity in itself. In fact, two full Moons in one month only occurs every two or three years. This phenomenon is known as a ‘Blue Moon’, and a fun fact: this is where the phrase “once in a Blue Moon” comes from.
Full moon schedule for 2026:
Sunday, May 31 – Blue Moon
Monday, June 29 – Strawberry Moon, micromoon
Wednesday, July 29 – Buck Moon
Friday, August 28 – Sturgeon Moon, partial lunar eclipse
Saturday, September 26 – Harvest Moon
Monday, October 26 – Hunter’s Moon
Tuesday, November 24 – Beaver Moon, supermoon
Wednesday, December 23 – Cold Moon, supermoon