by Sky viewers were treated to May’s full moon shining brightly in the spring sky and we have the photos to prove it.
May’s full mooncalled the Flower Moon, rose shortly after sunset and was visible in the constellation Scorpius. He then processed it to hide, or conceal, Antaresgreat red star.
From New York City to the temples of Ancient Greece, we take a look at some of the world’s best May full moon photos.
Related: Full moon calendar 2024: When to see the next full moon
Full moons occur when the moonsun and World which are aligned, with the Earth in the middle. Although the moon is not full most of the time; but only when all three are perfectly aligned is the moon 100% full, which only happens briefly on a full moon date.
In the photos below, the Flower Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City, USA on May 22.
The moon still appears bright and full the day before and the day after the full moon.
The Full Flower Moon took on a pretty orange-pink color as it rose over Kuwait City.
This dark image of the full moon shining over the Phare Des Mamelles Lighthouse in Dakar, Senegal is very striking.
Below, the May full moon is visible in Molfetta, Italy, behind Torre Calderina. If you look carefully you will see a dancer striking a pose in front of Torre Calderina.
Another photo from Molfetta, Italy, shows the full moon in a delicate yellow color as it shines behind a thin layer of clouds.
Here the Full Flower Moon is seen through the leaves of the trees in a forest in Tehatta, West Bengal, India.
In the photo below the Full Flower Moon sets behind the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as seen from Emeryville in California, USA.
Make for the moon! In this well-placed photo, the Full Flower Moon appears to be struck by a crane in Dakar, Senegal.
Another cleverly posed photo taken from Frankfurt, Germany shows a plane that appears to be flying beneath the full May moon.
The full moon was photobombed by another flying machine, this time of the avian variety in this photo captured from Cannes, France.
This dramatic image below shows the full moon rising over the Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion in Athens, Greece.
The full moon of May is the holiest day for millions of Buddhists around the world. “Vesak”, May Full Moon Day, was the the day Buddha was bornin 623 BC, the Buddha attained enlightenment on Vesak Day and it was also on Vesak Day that the Buddha died.
Below are some photos from a celebration at Borobudur temple in Central Java, Indonesia.
If this is all Full Moon the content inspires you to journey deeper into the moon on our rocky companion Ultimate guide to moon gazing it will help you plan your next skywatching venture, whether it’s exploring the moonlit seas, the mountainous terrain, or the many craters dotting the landscape. You can also see where astronauts, rovers and landers have done business with us Apollo landing site observation guide.
If you’re looking for a telescope or binoculars to look at the moon, our guides to the best deals on binoculars and the best telescope deals can be yours now. Our best astrophotography cameras and best astrophotography lenses can also help you prepare to capture your next sky scene.
Note to the Editor: If you take a photo of the moon and want to share it with Space.com readers, send your photo(s), your comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
