Moon Blog: The Next Full Moon is the Flower Moon
The next full Moon will be on Sunday evening, April 29, 2018, appearing "opposite" the Sun (in Earth-based longitude) at 8:58 PM EDT.
moon.nasa.govHere are the latest notable updates on the Flower Moon full moon.
- What it is: The Flower Moon is the full moon that typically appears in May and gets its name from the springtime flowers in North America; it’s also sometimes called the Milk Moon or Hare Moon in various folk traditions. This remains the standard naming convention used by many skywatching sources.[4]
- Latest visibility: In 2025, the Flower Moon reached peak illumination around May 12, with observers reporting a bright, well-illuminated disk visible around sunset across many parts of the world, including North America and Europe.[1][2][4]
- Notable features to look for: The Moon’s maria (dark basaltic plains) are easy to spot under good observing conditions, and you may notice a warm, slightly orange tint near moonrise due to atmospheric scattering; the Moon often appears high in the sky later in the evening as well.[1]
- Recent highlights and imagery: Space- and science-focused outlets published photo roundups of May’s Flower Moon showing it rising over landmarks and landscapes worldwide, underscoring its popularity for night-sky photography.[4]
- Context and variations: Some outlets also discuss alternative names and seasonal associations, and NASA-related accounts frequently share peak times and viewing tips for Flower Moon events.[2][1]
If you’d like, I can tailor times for your specific location (Los Angeles) and suggest the best dates and sky conditions to maximize your viewing experience, plus tips for photography.