Full moon: NASA scientist explains why moon appears ‘brighter’
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May’s full Moon has several names, all of which connect it to the fact it signifies spring. These names are “flower moon”, “corn planting moon” or “milk moon” although the first is the most common.
What are the best ways to maximise your viewing pleasure of the Flower Moon?
Holiday resort Parkdean has offered some handy tips on the best way to see the Flower Moon.
The first tip is to “get up high”, Parkdean said in a statement.
The statement added: “The further up you are, the better your chance of a clear sky to see the stars, plus you’ll be able to see low down to the horizon to watch the Moon rise!
“Take a hike in your local area and explore the surroundings to find the perfect stargazing spot!
“The further you are away from light pollution the better chance you’ll have of seeing the stars.
“Moons always rise in the east and set in the west – so follow this direction in your search.”
Light pollution will also play a part in how visible the Moon will be.
Parkdean said: “For those stargazing from the comfort of their homes, turning off the lights indoors can improve the visibility of the night sky, so long as you’re not afraid of the dark!
“Artificial light can make it harder to see stars in the sky so make sure wherever you are is as dark as possible.”
According to Time & Date, the Flower Moon will reach its peak at 12.13pm BST on Wednesday.
However, it will appear full to the naked eye for a couple of days on either side of May 26.
What makes this Full Moon even more special is that it is classed as a Supermoon, meaning it will appear slightly bigger than usual.
On average, the Moon is 238,000 miles from Earth, but during a Supermoon the can be 221,000 miles away from our planet.
This is because the Moon’s orbit is not a perfect circle and is actually slightly oval.
Thankfully, there may be a rare break in the clouds tomorrow evening which will allow the Supermoon to shine through.
The Met Office’s forecast for tomorrow reads: “Rain in the northeast breaking up into showers, some heavy but less so than Monday and Tuesday.
“Staying dry for the west and south and turning a little warmer here.”
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