May 2023 delivers an extraordinary new celestial experience. This full moon, called an apogee full moon or micromoon, will reach its peak on Monday, May 12. This phenomenon occurs when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth, measuring 251,828 miles (405,278 kilometers) away, compared to the average distance of 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometers). This means that for the average observer, the moon will seem a bit smaller than usual.
Jamie Carter, a veteran journalist at such outlets as Space.com, TechRadar.com, and Forbes Science, gives us an amazing perspective. Speaking of full moons, this month’s apogee full moon almost perfectly coincides with the full moon phase! The moon will officially reach full status at 12:56 p.m. EDT on Monday. Skywatchers are invited to catch it around dusk later that day for the best possible view.
Depending on where you are in the world, this long-held cultural significance differs wildly from region to region, tradition to tradition. This exciting lunar event is known by many names. Some know it as the Mothers’ Moon, but others as the Bright Moon, Hare Moon or Grass Moon. The Anishinaabe people of the Great Lakes region know it as the Sucker Moon. The Anglo-Saxon name, the Milk Moon, refers to the practice of milking cows three times daily in May.
Next up, after June’s Rose Moon, the full moon will be the Strawberry Moon on Wednesday, June 11. That’s because this is the last full moon of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It arrives just before the summer solstice, occurring on Saturday, June 21. Skywatchers, rejoice! Observers can look forward to the Strawberry Moon providing yet another chance for skywatching enthusiasts to connect with the beauty of the night sky.
