Why May's Flower full Moon on Monday is a Micromoon
May's full Moon is rightfully nicknamed the Flower Moon because, as your allergies have probably alerted you, many spring flowers and plants are in bloom right now.
What Are The Phases Of The Moon?
Don't worry – the Moon is not shrinking. Monday's full Moon appearance is simply because of the distance between Earth and our only natural satellite. The Moon will be about 251,000 miles from Earth, compared to the average distance of about 237,000 miles.
May's Flower full Moon is considered a Micromoon because it occurs during apogee, when the Moon is at its farthest point in its orbit of Earth. This is the opposite of a Supermoon, which is when a full Moon occurs at the closest point in the Moon's orbit of our planet, also known as perigee.
Coincidentally, the Earth and the Moon were at their closest distance of the year on April 27, but it happened during a new Moon when the lunar satellite was invisible to us.
The full Flower Moon's peak illumination happens on May 12 at 12:56 p.m. EDT. The Moon will appear full on the two nights before and after this date.
Still, don't let the distance or the name Micromoon discourage you from stepping outside to enjoy the beautiful spring weather. The Moon will still appear bright and dazzling in the night sky.
Next month, the full Moon, known as the Strawberry Moon, will rise on June 11. June's full Moon will appear slightly larger, as the Moon will be about 248,000 miles from Earth – just a smidgen closer.Original article source: Why May's Flower full Moon on Monday is a Micromoon
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We are a team of researchers based across four countries with expertise in space policy and law, ethics, geography and anthropology who have written about the difficulties and importance of inclusion in space. Major players like the U.S., the European Union and China may once have dominated space and seen it as a place to try out new commercial and military ventures. Emerging new players in space, like other countries, commercial interests and nongovernmental organizations, may have other goals and rationales. Unexpected new initiatives from these newcomers could shift perceptions of space from something to dominate and possess to something more inclusive, equitable and democratic. We address these emerging and historical tensions in a paper published in May 2025 in the journal Nature, in which we describe the difficulties and importance of including nontraditional actors and Indigenous peoples in the space industry. 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