Tue May 13 06:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Full Flower Moon Lights Up the Night Sky

**New York, NY (May 12, 2025)** – Stargazers worldwide are treated to a spectacular view of the Full Flower Moon tonight. The May full moon, named for the abundance of wildflowers blooming this time of year, reached its peak illumination at 12:56 p.m. EDT (17:56 GMT). While this was below the horizon for much of the US, a stunning moonrise was visible around 8:30 p.m. local time in the southeast. The moon will appear full for several nights surrounding this peak.

The exact timing of the full moon varies by location; viewers are encouraged to consult stargazing apps like Starry Night or websites such as in-the-sky.org for precise local times.

Many observers may notice the moon appearing larger near the horizon – a phenomenon known as the moon illusion. While the moon’s actual size doesn’t change, this optical illusion is a result of how our brains perceive distance and size.

The moon’s color may also vary. When close to the horizon, the longer wavelengths of light (red and yellow) pass through the atmosphere more easily than shorter wavelengths (blue), giving the moon a yellowish or orange hue. This makes it a particularly attractive subject for astrophotography, especially during moonrise.

Tonight’s celestial event offers much more than just the moon. The constellation Libra will appear to the left of the moon, with bright stars like Spica and Arcturus above. Jupiter and Mars will be visible in the west, while Venus and Saturn will rise in the east as the moon sets.

Space.com invites readers to share their photos of the Flower Moon by emailing them to spacephotos@space.com.

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