When to See the Full Moon in May
May’s Full Moon is at its most illuminated at 16:55 UTC on May 12, 2025.
The Moon always appears full in the days before and after peak illumination. Full Moon is the only phase where the Moon is up all night, with moonrise and moonset occurring around sunset and sunrise.
Moon Phase Times May 2025
| Moon Phase | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| First Quarter | May 4 | 13:51 UTC |
| Full Moon | May 12 | 16:55 UTC |
| Third Quarter | May 20 | 11:58 UTC |
| New Moon | May 27 | 03:02 UTC |
Moon phases are divided into primary and intermediate: Primary Moon phases happen at a specific moment in time, while the intermediate Moon phases occupy the times in between.
May Micromoon
The Full Moon on May 12 is a Micromoon , which means it is near the point in its orbit where it is farthest from Earth. At the moment of Full Moon, it will be around 405,278 kilometers (251,828 miles) away.
It won’t look any smaller. In fact, it may seem bigger because of an optical illusion known as the Moon illusion .
See where the Moon is right now
The Moon & Planets in May
Around May 3–4, the First Quarter Moon has a close approach with Mars. Look for the Half Moon just after sunset, and you can see a reddish planet close by. Lucky skywatchers on the eastern coast of the US will see a very close approach, like in New York, USA . Look to the western horizon in Europe to see the Red Planet— like in London, UK . In Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand , Mars will be a bit further away from the Moon on May 4.
Around May 23, look for an alignment of the Moon, Venus, and Saturn. Look to the eastern horizon just before sunrise to see the two planets line up with the Waning Crescent Moon. You need to know your timings as the trio rises just before dawn and will be lost in the glare of the Sun after sunrise. See what the alignment looks like from New York, USA ; London, UK ; Sydney, Australia ; and Auckland, New Zealand .
What does it look like from your point of view? Explore the Moon in our Night Sky Map : Use the slider and calendar to view the Moon rise and set, as well as constellations, stars, and planets near the Moon.
The Full Moon in May is the Flower Moon
May’s Full Moon is known as the Flower Moon . It gets its name from the spring flowers that bloom during this month in the Northern Hemisphere. Native American names are the Budding Moon, Egg Laying Moon, and Planting Moon.
The Celtic and Old English names are Mothers’ Moon, Bright Moon, Hare Moon, and Grass Moon. The Anglo-Saxons called it Milk Moon.
