Although full moons happen roughly each 29 days, a flower moon is a once-yearly spectacle that has been spiritually related to development, new alternatives and contemporary beginnings. It’s been a really thrilling time for stargazing and celestial events these days – final week we noticed the annual Lyrid meteor shower litter the skies, and this week, an excellent full flower moon is set to take place.
Here, we take a have a look at when the 2026 full flower moon will likely be seen – plus how to spot it within the sky this spring.
When is the 2026 full flower moon?
This 12 months’s full flower moon will happen on Friday 1 May. According to the Royal Observatory, the most effective time to observe it will likely be 18.23pm within the UK.
It coincides with each May Day and a cross-quarter day (midway between March’s equinox and the summer time solstice in June.)
How to observe the flower moon this week
May’s flower moon must be seen with the bare eye. Simply look in a south-eastern path.
According to the climate forecast for Friday, situations must be comparatively clear, with temperatures of 20 levels Celsius in London and 15 levels Celsius in Edinburgh. There will likely be patches of rain throughout the Midlands, however there would not seem to be a lot cloud protection that night.
What is a flower moon?
Essentially, the flower moon in May is like most different full moons, however will get its title from the spring blossoms so considerable this time of 12 months. It is generally additionally referred to because the hare moon, the corn planting moon and even the milk moon.
When is the subsequent full moon?
After the flower moon, the subsequent full moon will likely be on Sunday, 31 May and will likely be what is referred to as a blue moon, which, regardless of the saying “once in a blue moon”, happens pretty usually. Typically, it occurs each two or three years and is named as such, not due to its color, however as a result of that is the title bestowed upon it by the Algonquin folks.