May's Full 'Flower Moon' Late Sunday Evening

(Image Source: LittleAcornLearning.com )

By Glenn A. Walsh
Reporting for SpaceWatchtower

Late this evening (May 3), comes the Full Moon of May. The May Full Moon occurs on Sunday Evening, 2015 May 3 at 11:42 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time (EDT) / May 4 at 3:42 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

This Full Moon comes just after the traditional May Day (May 1) and just before the actual cross-quarter day of Beltaine, the actual mid-point in the season of Spring. Beltaine occurs on Wednesday Morning, 2015 May 6 at 3:41 a.m. EDT / 7:41 UTC.

At the mid-point of Spring, with flowers finally starting to bloom after the long cold Winter, the May Full Moon is primarily known as the Flower Moon to Native Americans.

Due to increasing fertility in mid-Spring, along with the end of hard frosts and warmer temperatures better attuned to the bearing of young and the raising of crops, in the Northern Hemisphere the Full Moon of May is also known as the Mother's Moon, and the Corn-Planting Moon or just Planting Moon. And, as Beltaine was the time when farmers in Medieval Europe would move their cows to the better Summer pastures, it was also known as the Milk Moon.

As the Southern Hemisphere begins to enter their colder months, their Full Moon names include Hunter's Moon, Beaver Moon, and Frost Moon.

More on the Full Moon: Link >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_moon

More on Full Moon names ---
Link 1 >>> http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/full-moon-names
Link 2 >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_moon#Harvest_and_Hunter.27s_moons
Link 3 >>> http://www.farmersalmanac.com/full-moon-names/

Sun Rise / Set and Moon Rise / Set Times for Cities (U.S. Naval Observatory):
Link >>> http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php

Special Thanks: Eric G. Canali, former Floor Manager of Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science and Founder of South Hills Backyard Astronomers amateur astronomy club.

Source: Glenn A. Walsh Reporting for SpaceWatchtower, a project of Friends of the Zeiss.

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gaw

Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,
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