How To See May’s Full Flower Moon Over Massachusetts

MASSACHUSETTS — May’s full flower moon will be shining brightly over the next few days, but that doesn’t mean Massachusetts shooting-star chasers should skip a chance to see the predicted Eta Aquariids meteor shower outburst.

NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke says the Eta Aquariids are so bright and fast that they’re a good match against the full flower moon, according to Space.com.

The moon reaches peak illumination at 1:36 a.m. Eastern Time Friday, but will be below the horizon then, so make sure to take another peek after sunset through the weekend.

In fact, you might have to wait until Saturday night in Massachusetts. The National Weather Service is predicting partly-cloudy skies over the eastern half of the state Friday night. The skies will be clear on Saturday and Sunday nights, according to the forecast.

One thing we won’t see over the United States is a full flower lunar eclipse — which happens when Earth passes between the sun and the moon and casts part of its shadow on the moon. It will be visible in Africa, Asia, Australia and large parts of Europe, but not in the United States.

Related: The Great American Solar Eclipse In 2024 Might Eclipse 2017's Event

May’s full moon is called the flower moon because this is the time of year when flowers pop out of the ground and start blooming. Among Native Americans, the full moons of each month were named to correspond with seasons and activities taking place at the time.

Other names for the May full moon include the budding moon, leaf budding moon, planting moon, egg laying moon, frog moon and moon of the shedding ponies, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.