When To See May's Flower Moon & Giant Super Star Antares

Full moons are always a beautiful sight, but some are more grandiose than others.

One of the more spectacular full moons is the first full moon in May called the Flower Moon, and it will be visible on Wednesday and Thursday night.

This year, the Flower moon will be accompanied by the bright star Antares, making for a beautiful celestial moment.

Get our free mobile app

What Is the Flower Moon?

According to the Farmers Almanac, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not solely to the full Moon.

May is the month of Spring, so it’s only fitting to call its first moon the Flower Moon. It has also been referred to by many other names such as Budding Moon, Leaf Budding Moon, and Planting Moon.

All names point to warmer days ahead.

Flower Moon to Be Joined by the Star Antares

According to Live Science, this month’s full moon will be accompanied by the bright star Antares.

A red supergiant star, Antares will be visible to the lower left of the full moon as it rises.

“It has an unmistakeable red tint…It’s one of the few very bright stars the moon appears close to during its orbit,” said Live Science.

When to View the Flower Moon and Antares

The best chance for viewing is Thursday when the moon rises about 50 minutes after the sun sets.

For the SouthCoast, look to the sky for the moonrise at 8:43 pm.

Unfortunately, the forecast shows mostly cloudy skies for Thursday evening, so hopefully the moon and the star shine brightly enough for us to enjoy.

LOOK UP: 10 Spots on the SouthCoast to Stargaze

The Parade of Planets is headed our way on June 24, but we are fortunate enough to have beautiful night skies all year-round. Seek out these places for an unobstructed view.

Gallery Credit: Maddie Levine