Skywatchers will have a lot to look forward to this week when May’s Flower Moon fills the sky. The full moon will not be the only event this week. A penumbral eclipse may also occur, depending on your location.
If you want to catch the full Moon this month, then you’ll want to head outside on Friday. The Flower Moon will peak around 1:36 p.m. EDT. By then, however, the Moon would be beneath the horizon. Because of this, you’ll want to head outside in the late hours of Thursday — early morning on Friday — for a chance to see the Moon.
The Penumbral Lunar Eclipse will take place on Friday during the day, so only those in Africa, Asia and Australia can enjoy it. For those elsewhere, the May Flower Moon will simply look like yet another full Moon.
Still, any full Moon is exciting and a chance to take in one of the prettiest — if not more mundane — events in the cosmic world. There will be more to do this week than Moon-related activities. Sky-watchers can also see the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower .
This meteor shower is normally active between April 19 to May 28 and will peak on May 5. Unfortunately, due to the May Flower Moon, it will be harder to see the meteors, and you’ll probably only see around a dozen an hour when they are at their brightest. For a chance to see these meteors, head outside between 2-3 a.m. local time on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
The May Flower Moon earned was given its name by the Algonquin peoples, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. It shouldn’t be a surprise since May is considered a month for flower blooms. Make sure to head outside later this week to experience the full Moon yourself.
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