The May 2025 full moon, also called the "flower moon," officially occurs on Monday, May 12, giving skywatchers who are now enjoying milder conditions a chance to see a micromoon. Micromoons look a bit smaller and dimmer than usual.

May's full moon, known as the 'Flower Moon' is set to dazzle stargazers and the astrophotography community alike when it rises on the night sky on May 12. Read on to discover where, when, and what to look for to get the most out of the yearly lunar event.

According to NASA, an Old English name for the May full moon is the milk moon. In 703 AD, the English monk St. Bede the Venerable wrote that May was known as the "Three-Milkings Month," likely because cows could be milked three times a day during this fertile time of year.