It’s a busy time in the skies as the upcoming full moon will crossover with the first lunar eclipse of 2023.

The next full moon is on Friday, May 5, at 6.34pm in the UK, and is also known as a ‘Flower Moon’.

This is also a bonus year for full moons as there will be 13 full moons in 2023 as opposed to the typical 12 a year.

On the same day, the Moon will be eclipsed by the shadow of the Earth which gets in between the Moon and the Sun with the three bodies in a straight line.

The Moon is set to pass through the Earth’s shadow between 4.15pm and 8.32pm with maximum eclipse occurring at 4.24pm UK time.

This one will be a penumbral lunar eclipse which happens when the Moon passes into the lighter outer region of the Earth’s shadow called the penumbra.

With the Moon in the penumbra, it receives less light from the Sun and is dimmed but still remains somewhat illuminated. The effect is only perceptible to those with very astute vision, or in carefully controlled photographs.

It will be visible from locations where the Moon is above the horizon such as Antarctica, Asia, Russia, Africa and Australia. Sadly, the eclipse will not be visible from London since the Moon will be beneath the horizon at the time.

Still, you can enjoy the full moon that will hang around the sky this week.

Why is it called the Flower Moon?

Many cultures refer to May’s full moon as the Flower Moon thanks to the abundant blooming that occurs as spring gets going properly.

May sees the bloom of wildflowers like anemone, wild garlic, indigo, bluebells, lupine, sundrops, and violets in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Anglo-Saxon name for May’s brightest Moon phase is Milk Moon from the Old English Rimilcemona. It means three-milkings-month in modern English because cows were milked three times a day during this time of year. The Celtic and Old English names are Mothers’ Moon, Bright Moon, Hare Moon, and Grass Moon.

The Native Americans called it Budding Moon, Egg Laying Moon, and Planting Moon.

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