Earth’s only natural satellite, the Moon, takes approximately 29 and a half days to complete cyclecomprising four main phases: full moon, new moon, waxing moon and waning moon.
When the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, a full moon occurs, when the satellite reflects the full range of sunlight and reaches maximum illumination.
Therefore, and considering that the moon takes 29 and a half days to complete the cycle again and become full again, the usual thing is like this only one is produced full moon every month. But since the year has a total of 365 or 366 days, depending on whether or not it is a leap year, there are a total of 12.4 complete lunar cycles per year. That means everyone about two and a half and three yearsthere are 13 full moons per year, as was the case in 2023, which had two full moons in August: the 1st and 31st.
Lighting half
Before the full moon, the Moon passes through the crescent phase, characterized by its right half being illuminated in the northern hemisphere and receiving ‘D’ shape in the northern hemisphere.
After the end of the full moon, the Moon enters the phase of the waning or waning quarter, shows the illuminated left side and gains ‘C’ shape.
This peculiarity leads to the claim that the moon is a liar: as it grows, it takes the form ‘D’, the letter with which the verb ‘decline’ and its adjective form ‘decline’ begin; while in descending it represents the “C” shape, the letter that begins the verb “to grow” and its auxiliary variant “growing”.
Phase
After being in the waning quarter, the Moon becomes a new moon, also known as a new moon or interluon. This phase occurs when the Moon is located exactly between the Earth and the Sun, so that its illuminated hemisphere is not visible from our planet.
These are this month’s lunar phases and its plan for the Spanish peninsula for the month of May, according to the National Geographic Institute, until the full moon is reached again on the 23rd. flower moon or flower moon.
- New month: from 5:22 a.m 8th Mayunder Taurus sign.
- Crescent: from 1:48 p.m. 15 th Mayunder Leo sign.
- full moon: from 15:53 May 23rdunder Sagittarius sign.
- the last quarter: from 7:13 p.m. May 30under sign of Pisces.
last spring
This full moon will be the third and final spring moon as the next full moon will be on June 22nd and summer starts on June 20. The first full moon of spring, which occurred on March 25 and coincided with a penumbral lunar eclipse.
The origin of the name of the full moon is due to popular culture, because the names that Native American tribes gave to each month are usually used. Specifically, May served to control the passing of the seasons and the arrival of each moment.
However, the names are different. So others have given different names to this flower month, such as mother moon -considered a symbol of increased fertility-, milk moon -as a symbol of the end of late frosts- or corn planting month -for flowering plants-.
Huaiyue
On the other hand, in China, the lunar months have different names, and specifically it is called the full moon in May ‘Huaiyuè’ or acacia moon moon.
In addition, on May 23, when what is known as flower moon or flower moon, There will be 7 more full moons in 2024, one for each month of the year. And each with his own name:
- June 22: Strawberry Moon. Beginning at 3:08 in the morning under the sign of Capricorn.
- July 21: Deer Moon. From 12:17 and also in the sign of Capricorn.
- August 19: Sturgeon month, in the sign of Aquarius and from 8:25 p.m.
- September 18: Harvest Moon. Starting at 4:34 and in the sign of Pisces.
- October 17: Hunter’s Moon. From 13:26 and in the sign of Aries.
- November 15: Beaver Moon. It will take place in the sign of Taurus and will start at 22:28.
- December 15: Cold Moon. From 10:01 and under the sign of Gemini.
