May’s full Flower Moon is set to light up the night sky on Friday 1 May.
It will rise as daylight fades, appearing low in the eastern sky before climbing toward the south-east as midnight approaches. Throughout the night it will cross the southern sky before setting off to the south-west around dawn.
The term Flower Moon comes from Native American seasonal naming traditions and was later popularised through sources such as the Farmer’s Almanac.
These names were rooted in the natural world, reflecting the changes unfolding each month – and in May, that meant the burst of wildflowers, warmer weather, and renewed plant growth.
The meaning fits beautifully in the UK as well. By early May, the country is awash with colour: bluebells carpet ancient woodlands, hawthorn blossoms brighten hedgerows, and the lengthening days stretch into gentle, warm evenings.