The Flower Moon Is Also A Blue Moon

Every month of the year there is a full moon, each of which is given a different name.

The Full Moon of May is known as Flower Moon to signify the flowers that bloom during this month. It is also a Blue Moon. The moon is never actually blue but sometimes dust particles can make the moon look blue.

A Blue Moon is commonly defined as the 'second full moon to occur within a single calendar month', but this is not the traditional meaning of the term.

Originally, a Blue Moon was the third of four full moons to occur within one astronomical season. This has occurred this year because the full moon in March was on the same day as the Spring Equinox and the June full moon will occur a few days prior to the Summer Solstice, so making the May full moon the third full moon in spring.

The two previous full moons this spring were 20 March and 19 April. The fourth will be 17 June .

Other names for May's brightest Moon are Corn Planting Moon, Mother's Moon, and Milk Moon, this was because cows were milked three times a day. Some sources also refer to it as Hare Moon.

The May full moon marked a time of increasing fertility, with temperatures warm enough for safely bearing young, a near end to late frosts, and plants in bloom.

The names given to the full moons during the year are derived from the North American traditions.

Full Moon Names:

January - Wolf Moon
February - Snow Moon
March - Worm Moon
April - Pink Moon
May- Flower Moon
June - Strawberry Moon
July - Buck Moon
August - Sturgeon Moon
September - Harvest Moon
October - Hunter's Moon
November - Beaver Moon
December - Cold Moon
Blue Moon - Some years have an extra full moon which happens approximately every two or three years.

Many of these ancient moon names have been given based on the behaviour of the plants, animals, or weather during that month.

Stargazers should look out for this month’s Blue Moon on 18/19 May for there will not be a chance to see this wonderful event for another two years.

So let us hope for a clear cloud-free night sky on Saturday so that we can see the bright full moon.

The next full moon will rise on 17 June 2019 and this will be the Strawberry Moon.