The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back to our planet changes. That creates different lunar phases.
The next Full Moon will be the Strawberry Moon, which occurs at 3:44 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
We’ll update this article multiple times each week with the latest moonrise, moonset, Full Moon schedule, and some of what you can see in the sky each week.
Here’s the complete list of Full Moons this year and their traditional names.
2025 Full Moon schedule and names of each
(All times Eastern; * denotes a Super Moon.)
- Monday, Jan. 13 — 5:27 p.m. — Wolf Moon
- Wednesday, Feb. 12 — 8:53 a.m. — Snow Moon
- Friday, March 14 — 2:55 a.m. — Worm Moon
- Saturday, April 12 — 8:22 p.m. — Pink Moon
- Monday, May 12 — 12:56 p.m. — Flower Moon
- Wednesday, June 11 — 3:44 a.m. — Strawberry Moon
- Thursday, July 10 — 4:37 p.m. — Buck Moon
- Saturday, Aug. 9 — 3:55 a.m. — Sturgeon Moon
- Sunday, Sept. 7 — 2:09 p.m. — Corn Moon
- Monday, Oct. 6 — 11:48 p.m. — Hunter’s Moon*
- Wednesday, Nov. 5 — 8:19 a.m. — Beaver Moon*
- Thursday, Dec. 4 — 6:14 p.m. — Cold Moon*
The phases of the Moon in May 2025
The images below show the day-by-day phases of the Moon in May. The Full Moon this month was on Monday, May 12.
The moonrise and moonset schedule this week
The following is adapted from Alison Klesman’s The Sky This Week column. Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. local time from the same location.
Wednesday, May 28
The Moon passes 5° north of Jupiter at 9 A.M. EDT. Just six percent illuminated by this evening, you can try to spot the young crescent Moon hanging above the gas giant in the western sky after sunset.
An hour after the Sun disappears, Jupiter (shining at magnitude –1.9) is just 4° high in the west. Some 8.5° above it is the crescent Moon, near the border of Gemini and Auriga. You should be able to spot the brightest stars in these constellations quite well — Castor and Pollux mark the heads of Gemini to the Moon’s upper left, while Capella anchors the outline of Auriga to the Moon’s upper right. High above the Moon, the Big Dipper appears to stand on the end of its bowl in the early evening, its handle sticking straight up into the sky.
Sunrise: 5:35 A.M.
Sunset: 8:20 P.M.
Moonrise: 6:31 A.M.
Moonset: 10:46 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (4%)
Thursday, May 29
Sunrise: 5:35 A.M.
Sunset: 8:21 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:39 A.M.
Moonset: 11:39 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (9%)
Friday, May 30
Sunrise: 5:34 A.M.
Sunset: 8:21 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:52 A.M.
Moonset: —
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (17%)
Saturday, May 31
Sunrise: 5:34 A.M.
Sunset: 8:22 P.M.
Moonrise: 10:04 A.M.
Moonset: 12:19 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (26%)
Sunday, June 1
The Moon passes 1.4° north of Mars at 6 A.M. EDT; the two are visible together this evening, slowly setting in the western sky and visible for a few hours after sunset. Both now lie in western Leo, with the Moon close to the Lion’s bright heart, Regulus (Alpha [α] Leonis). Mars lies about 8.5° west of the Moon and Regulus, closer to the border of Leo and Cancer.
Sunrise: 5:33 A.M.
Sunset: 8:23 P.M.
Moonrise: 11:14 A.M.
Moonset: 12:51 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (36%)
Monday, June 2
First Quarter Moon occurs late this evening at 11:41 P.M. EDT, with the Moon now near the hindquarters of Leo the Lion.
Sunrise: 5:33 A.M.
Sunset: 8:24 P.M.
Moonrise: 12:19 P.M.
Moonset: 1:17 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (46%)
Tuesday, June 3
Already high in the sky at sunset, the Moon is some 45° high in the southwest an hour after the Sun disappears. Fix your telescope on the center of the Moon, near the terminator dividing lunar night and day. Just south of the lunar equator is a series of three craters, starting with Ptolemaeus. About 95 miles (153 kilometers) wide, its floor appears at first glance quite smooth except for one notable pockmark in the northeast. But Ptolemaeus is actually covered in craterlets that have been buried over time by ejecta from nearby impacts. Study its broad floor to see if you can find any telltale depressions.
Just south of Ptolemaeus is Alphonsus, nearly 70 miles (110 km) wide. This crater hosts a noticeable central peak as well as a north-south ridge spanning its entire width.
Southernmost of the trio is Arzachel. It is smallest (60 miles [96 km]) and youngest of the three, also hosting a central peak. Compare this crater’s walls and other features to Alphonsus — because Arzachel is younger, it is more sharply defined as it has had less time for impacts both near and far to affect its landscape.
Sunrise: 5:33 A.M.
Sunset: 8:24 P.M.
Moonrise: 1:22 P.M.
Moonset: 1:39 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (56%)
Wednesday, June 4
Sunrise: 5:32 A.M.
Sunset: 8:25 P.M.
Moonrise: 2:22 P.M.
Moonset: 1:58 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (65%)
Thursday, June 5
Sunrise: 5:32 A.M.
Sunset: 8:26 P.M.
Moonrise: 3:22 P.M.
Moonset: 2:18 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (74%)
Friday, June 6
The Moon passes 0.5° south of Spica at 11 A.M. EDT. The pair hangs in the evening sky, located in the south an hour after sunset.
By this evening, the Moon has moved some 6.3° southeast of Spica, the star that anchors Virgo the Maiden as its alpha luminary. Spica is magnitude 1 and sits close to the ecliptic, the plane of the solar system, which is also near the Moon’s orbit through our sky. At times, the Moon will pass in front of Spica from our earthly point of view, but not this month.
Sunrise: 5:32 A.M.
Sunset: 8:26 P.M.
Moonrise: 4:22 P.M.
Moonset: 2:38 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (82%)
Saturday, June 7
Sunrise: 5:32 A.M.
Sunset: 8:27 P.M.
Moonrise: 5:24 P.M.
Moonset: 3:00 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (88%)
The phases of the Moon
The phases of the Moon are: New Moon, waxing crescent, First Quarter, waxing gibbous, Full Moon, waning gibbous, Last Quarter, and waning crescent. A cycle starting from one Full Moon to its next counterpart, termed the synodic month or lunar month, lasts about 29.5 days.
Though a Full Moon only occurs during the exact moment when Earth, Moon, and Sun form a perfect alignment, to our eyes, the Moon seems Full for around three days.
RELATED: 20 things to see on the Moon
Different names for different types of Full Moon
There are a wide variety of specialized names used to identify distinct types or timings of Full Moons. These names primarily trace back to a blend of cultural, agricultural, and natural observations about the Moon, aimed at allowing humans to not only predict seasonal changes, but also track the passage of time.
For instance, almost every month’s Full Moon boasts a name sourced from Native American, Colonial American, or other North American traditions, with their titles mirroring seasonal shifts and nature’s events.
Wolf Moon (January): Inspired by the cries of hungry wolves.
Snow Moon (February): A nod to the month’s often heavy snowfall.
Worm Moon (March): Named after the earthworms that signal thawing grounds.
Pink Moon (April): In honor of the blossoming pink wildflowers.
Flower Moon (May): Celebrating the bloom of flowers.
Strawberry Moon (June): Marks the prime strawberry harvest season.
Buck Moon (July): Recognizing the new antlers on bucks.
Sturgeon Moon (August): Named after the abundant sturgeon fish.
Corn Moon (September): Signifying the corn harvesting period.
Hunter’s Moon (October): Commemorating the hunting season preceding winter.
Beaver Moon (November): Reflects the time when beavers are busy building their winter dams.
Cold Moon (December): Evocative of winter’s chill.
In addition, there are a few additional names for Full Moons that commonly make their way into public conversations and news.
Super Moon: This term is reserved for a Full Moon that aligns with the lunar perigee, which is the Moon’s nearest point to Earth in its orbit. This proximity renders the Full Moon unusually large and luminous. For a Full Moon to earn the Super Moon tag, it should be within approximately 90 percent of its closest distance to Earth.
Blue Moon: A Blue Moon is the second Full Moon in a month that experiences two Full Moons. This phenomenon graces our skies roughly every 2.7 years. Though the term suggests a color, Blue Moons aren’t truly blue. Very occasionally, atmospheric conditions such as recent volcanic eruptions might lend the Moon a slightly blueish tint, but this hue isn’t tied to the term.
Harvest Moon: Occurring closest to the autumnal equinox, typically in September, the Harvest Moon is often renowned for a distinct orange tint it might display. This Full Moon rises close to sunset and sets near sunrise, providing extended hours of bright moonlight. Historically, this was invaluable to farmers gathering their produce.
Common questions about Full Moons
What is the difference between a Full Moon and a New Moon? A Full Moon is witnessed when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, making the entire Moon’s face visible. Conversely, during a New Moon, the Moon lies between Earth and the Sun, shrouding its Earth-facing side in darkness.
How does the Full Moon influence tides? The Moon’s gravitational tug causes Earth’s waters to bulge, birthing tides. During both Full and New Moons, the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in alignment, generating “spring tides.” These tides can swing exceptionally high or low due to the combined gravitational influences of the Sun and Moon.
Here are the dates for all the lunar phases in 2025:
| New | First Quarter | Full | Last Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 6 | Jan. 13 | Jan. 21 | |
| Jan. 29 | Feb. 5 | Feb. 12 | Feb. 20 |
| Feb. 27 | March 6 | March 14 | March 22 |
| March 29 | April 4 | April 12 | April 20 |
| April 27 | May 4 | May 12 | May 20 |
| May 26 | June 2 | June 11 | June 18 |
| June 25 | July 2 | July 10 | July 17 |
| July 24 | Aug. 1 | Aug. 9 | Aug. 16 |
| Aug. 23 | Aug. 31 | Sept. 7 | Sept. 14 |
| Sept. 21 | Sept. 29 | Oct. 6 | Oct. 13 |
| Oct. 21 | Oct. 29 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 12 |
| Nov. 20 | Nov. 28 | Dec. 4 | Dec. 11 |
| Dec. 19 | Dec. 27 |
