Flower Moon 2025: What is May's full moon and when can you see it?

Space fans are in for a real treat next week as May's full moon will be visible in the night sky.

It is expected to peak across the UK on Monday 12 May.

This month's full moon will also be a 'micromoon.'

This is because the Moon is at its furthest point from Earth, making it appear smaller than usual.

It's the opposite of a supermoon when it appears bigger than usual as it's nearer to us.

But why is May's called the Flower Moon, and when exactly can you see it?

Keep reading to find out.

Why is it called a Flower Moon and how can I see it?

May's full moon is often known as the Flower Moon in the Northern Hemisphere, because it coincides with the spring flowers.

However it is also sometimes referred to as the Hare Moon, the Corn Planting Moon or the Milk Moon.

It will reach its peak at 5.56pm on 12 May according to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, although these timings can slightly change depending on where in the UK you are.

It will also look full in the days before and after the peak, so you have an extra chance to spot it.

Why do monthly full moons have names?

Throughout history, people have used the Moon and the light it reflects for different tasks such as hunting, planting and harvesting.

Cultures across the world give these full moons different names to describe what was happening in the month.

The modern calendar no longer follows the Moon's phases exactly, so sometimes there's more than one full moon a month, which is known as a Blue Moon.

Why not use our calendar below to find the name for your birth month's full moon?

What are the names of all the full moons and what do they mean?

January: Wolf Moon

Native Americans and Medieval Europeans called January's full moon a Wolf Moon. It's thought to be because wolves howled more at this time of year as there was less food.

February: Snow Moon

The snowy weather of February in North America led to the name Snow Moon. Other common names include Storm Moon and Hunger Moon.

March: Worm Moon

The Worm Moon appears in March at the end of winter when little creatures like worms begin squirming out of the ground. It's also called Milk Moon.

April: Pink Moon

Disappointingly, the Pink Moon isn't actually pink. It's named by Native Americans after pink flowers called wild ground phlox that bloom in early spring and appear throughout the United States and Canada.

It is also called Egg Moon and Fish Moon in other cultures.

May: Flower Moon

May's flowers are the reason for this month's name.

Other names include the Hare Moon, the Corn Planting Moon, and the Milk Moon.

June: Strawberry Moon

Native American Algonquin tribes named this the Strawberry Moon. This is because they would harvest strawberries at this time.

It's also called the Honey Moon, Rose Moon and Mead Moon.

July: Buck Moon

This is the time when a buck, a male deer, grows its full antlers. This moon is also called Thunder Moon after the summer thunderstorms.

August: Sturgeon Moon

People in North America caught sturgeons, a type of fish, around this time.

It is sometimes known as a Grain Moon or Green Corn Moon or Black Cherries Moon in some cultures.

September: Corn Moon

If it is the nearest full moon to the autumnal equinox, it is called the Harvest Moon instead.

September's full moon is probably called Corn Moon because that's when crops are gathered at the end of the summer season.

At this time, the Moon appears particularly bright, allowing farmers to continue harvesting into the night.

October: Hunter's Moon

This is the time when people would plan for the winter months and hunt animals for food.

Like September's full moon it is sometimes called the Harvest Moon.

November: Beaver Moon

Beavers often start building their dams about this time, which is where it got its name.

It is also sometimes called Frost Moon.

December: Cold Moon

The winter chill gave December's full moon the name Cold Moon.

Other names include the Long Night Moon and the Oak Moon.