The Full Flower Moon 2025 rises tonight! The May full moon gets its name from the abundance of wildflowers that spring into life at this time of year, and it promises a stunning view for skywatchers around the world.

According to NASA, an Old English name for the May full moon is the milk moon. In 703 AD, the English monk St. Bede the Venerable wrote that May was known as the "Three-Milkings Month," likely because cows could be milked three times a day during this fertile time of year.

On Monday, May 12, people will be able to see the full moon, although it might appear slightly smaller than usual, a phenomenon known as a micromoon. According to NASA, this occurs when the celestial body is at its farthest point from Earth, about 251,000 miles away.