Full Moon May 2023: The Full Flower Moon
Mark your calendars for the next May 2023 Full Moon. The next May full moon is Friday May 5, 2023 at 1:34 PM EDT or 5:34 PM UTC based on the data provided by NASA. It will be the fifth of the thirteen full moons in 2023.
A full moon occurs when the Earth is directly between the Sun and Moon so that the moon looks completely illuminated when you look at it. It happens about once a month or, 29.53 days on average.
Ready to dive a little deeper into the May 2023 Full Moon? Learn more about the moon’s nicknames and other facts.
The dates and times provided by NASA in United States Eastern Time (ET) account for both Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) for part of the year in the United States. Also below is the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) time. This was previously referred to as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Since your local time zone may be different, the exact dates may shift slightly for your calendar.
When is the full moon in May 2023?
The full moon in May will be on Friday May 5, 2023 1:34 PM EDT or 5:34 PM UTC. The May 5th full moon will be the fifth full moon of 2023 and the full moon in Scorpio.
What is the name of the May 2023 Full Moon?
The Full Moon in May 2023 is commonly referred to as the Full Flower Moon. This name probably isn’t a surprise when you think of the saying: “April Showers bring May Flowers”. Welcome to spring and the flowers that come with the season.
While the April full moon name doesn’t reference rain, the May full moon matches the time-honored saying.
Other nicknames for the May Full Moon include the Corn Planting Moon, and Milk Moon.
Which season includes the May Full Moon?
In 2023, the May Full Moon will be the second full moon of the Spring 2023 season. It will be the second full moon after the Vernal Equinox in 2023.
The Vernal or Spring equinox marks the beginning of astronomical spring and the end of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
In 2023, the Vernal Equinox will be Monday March 20, 2023 5:25 PM EDT or 9:25 PM UTC.
When is the new moon for the 2023 Full Flower Moon?
The lunar cycle for the May Full Moon will begin with its new moon in April 2023. The New Flower Moon will be on Thursday April 20, 2023 12:12 AM EDT or 4:12 AM UTC and will be in the new moon in Aries. There will also be a Hybrid Solar Eclipse during the New Flower Moon in April.
The new moon that will occur in May 2023 will be the start of the lunar cycle of the June full moon.
Will there be a full supermoon in May 2023?
No, the full moon in May 2023 will not be a full supermoon as it will be more than 360,000 kilometers away during the peak of the full moon. The year will have 2 supermoons in August and 2 additional full supermoons depending on the definition you use.
A full supermoon is a full moon that nearly coincides with the closest that the Moon comes to the Earth in its orbit, called perigee. The moon has a larger-than-usual appearance when you look at it. There isn’t an official definition for how close the moon needs to be to the earth to be considered a supermoon. For the purposes of this site, we’ll follow the Timeanddate.com definition using moons less than 360,000 kilometers from the Earth.
Will there be a lunar eclipse during the May Full Moon?
Yes there will be a lunar eclipse during the full moon in May 2023. During the May 5th full moon there will be a penumbral lunar eclipse.
The May lunar eclipse will be the first of two lunar eclipses in 2023. There will also be a partial lunar eclipse during the October Full Moon.
May 2023 Moon Phases in Eastern Time and UTC
Below are the lunar phases for May 2023 including the new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter that are on the schedule for each month. The date and times are based on both the United States Eastern Time Zone and UTC, adjusted for daylight saving time.
| Lunar Phase | US Eastern Date & Time | UTC Date & Time |
|---|---|---|
| May Full Moon | May 5, 2023 1:34 PM EDT | May 5, 2023 5:34 PM UTC |
| May Last Quarter | May 12, 2023 10:28 AM EDT | May 12, 2023 2:28 PM UTC |
| May New Moon | May 19, 2023 11:53 AM EDT | May 19, 2023 3:53 PM UTC |
| May First Quarter | May 27, 2023 11:22 AM EDT | May 27, 2023 3:22 PM UTC |
Future May Full Moons
Wondering about May in the future and when the full moons will occur? Here’s a list for the next few years.
| Year | Day of the week | Future May Full Moons |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Friday | May 5, 2023 1:34 PM EDT |
| 2024 | Thursday | May 23, 2024 9:53 AM EDT |
| 2025 | Monday | May 12, 2025 12:56 PM EDT |
| 2026 | Friday | May 1, 2026 1:23 PM EDT |
| 2026 | Sunday | May 31, 2026 4:45 AM EDT (Blue Moon) |
| 2027 | Thursday | May 20, 2027 6:59 AM EDT |
| 2028 | Monday | May 8, 2028 3:49 PM EDT |
| 2029 | Sunday | May 27, 2029 2:37 PM EDT |
Past May Full Moons
And what about the past? Here is when the full moon occurred in the past for May.
| Year | Day of the week | Past May Full Moons |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Monday | May 16, 2022 12:14 AM EDT |
| 2021 | Wednesday | May 26, 2021 7:14 AM EDT |
| 2020 | Thursday | May 7, 2020 6:45 AM EDT |
| 2019 | Saturday | May 18, 2019 5:11 PM EDT |
| 2018 | Tuesday | May 29, 2018 10:20 AM EDT |
| 2017 | Wednesday | May 10, 2017 5:43 PM EDT |
Frequently Asked Questions
Have additional questions about the May Full Moons? Here are a few of the frequently asked questions to help you.
In 2023, there will be one full moon in May. The May Full Moon will be on Friday May 5, 2023 1:34 PM EDT or 6:34 PM UTC. There are other years with 2 full moons, with the second called a blue moon, but not for 2023.
Future Full Moon Calendars
And if you’re looking for when the full moon occurs for the rest of the year, check out these future full moon calendars.
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