A Full Flower Moon shines within the sky tonight from sundown to dawn.
Full Moon happens at 12:56 P.M. EDT this afternoon. Might’s Full Moon can be known as the Flower Moon and since our satellite tv for pc remains to be close to apogee, it is going to seem some 29’ throughout, barely smaller than the Full Moon’s common measurement (about 31’) within the sky.
The Full Moon rises roughly reverse the Solar, so Luna will emerge above the southwestern horizon shortly after sundown this night. Our satellite tv for pc is now within the constellation Libra, shining brightly simply west (to the higher proper as they rise) of the distinguished claw of Scorpius the Scorpion. The Moon will cross near the Scorpion’s coronary heart, Antares, in simply two days’ time.
Observing deep-sky objects through the Full Moon is difficult, however vivid objects on the alternative aspect of the sky should be reachable. Over within the west, Mars remains to be in central Most cancers, so check out the Pink Planet tonight, now almost 4° east of the Beehive Cluster (M44), which it handed shut by earlier this month. Mars shines at 1st magnitude, making it the brightest gentle in Most cancers. M44, which will be seen to the bare eye below darkish circumstances, will possible be washed out by the sunshine of the Moon and require binoculars or a telescope to take pleasure in this night.
Different vivid stars close by that must be seen to the bare eye embrace magnitude 0.4 Procyon, under Most cancers as this area units, and Castor (magnitude 1.6) and Pollux (magnitude 1.2) in Gemini, to Mars’ decrease proper. To the far combat of Castor and Pollux is magnitude 0.1 Capella, the luminary of the big constellation Auriga.
Dawn: 5:48 A.M.
Sundown: 8:06 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:35 P.M.
Moonset: 5:22 A.M.
Moon Part: Full
*Instances for dawn, sundown, moonrise, and moonset are given in native time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. native time from the identical location.
For a glance forward at extra upcoming sky occasions, take a look at our full Sky This Week column.
