Exactly When To See The Full ‘Flower Moon’ Rise From Where You Are

The fifth full Moon of 2024—the “Flower Moon”—will grace the early evening skies this week as it rises in the east just as the sun sets in the west.

It’s called the “Flower Moon,” but also the “Milk Moon” and the “Hare Moon.”

As a bonus, it will appear in the night sky close to the red supergiant star Antares in the constellation Scorpius.

Here’s everything you need to know about it, including exactly when, where and how to see it at its best from where you are:

When Is The ‘Flower Moon?’

The “Flower Moon” will turn full at 13:53 UTC/9:53 a.m. EDT on Thursday, May 23, but the best time to watch it is this month debatable.

Best Time To See The Full ‘Flower Moon’

A full moon looks best when it appears on the eastern horizon just after the sun has set in the west. It looks more prominent than usual and is colored a beautiful, muted orange at that time. The best time to view it will be moonrise where you are on Thursday, May 23.

From North America this month, the full moon will rise before sunset on the Wednesday, May 22, but long after it on Thursday, May 23, so there will be no views of it to be had during dusk. The bonus, however, is that Antares—the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius—will be visible to its lower-left.

Thursday, May 23

• In New York, sunset is at 8:13 p.m. EDT, and moonrise is at 8:53 p.m. EDT.
• In Los Angeles, sunset is at 7:53 p.m. PDT, and moonrise is at 8:35 p.m. PDT.
• In London, sunset is at 8:57 p.m. BST, and moonrise is at 9:36 p.m. BST (the moment of full moon is at 2:54 p.m. GMT).

How To See The Full ‘Flower Moon’

Get somewhere high up that faces east, or visit an east-facing coast, both of which will give you a clear view of the horizon—and the best views of the “Flower Moon,” clear skies allowing. Unaided eyes are perfect, though a pair of binoculars will give you a stunning close-up.

Why The ‘Flower Moon’ Will Look Orange

The “Flower Moon” will look its biggest and best as it appears on the eastern horizon during dusk. For about 15-20 minutes, it will appear orange. That’s because you’re looking at it through the densest part of Earth’s atmosphere. Long-wavelength red and orange light travels more easily through the atmosphere than short-wavelength blue light, which strikes more particles and gets scattered. The same physics (Raleigh scattering) explains why a sunset looks orange.

When Is The Next Full Moon?

The next full moon after the “Flower Moon” will be the full “Strawberry Moon” at 1:07 UTC/9:07 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 21—the sixth full moon of 2024 and the first of summer in the northern hemisphere.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.