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.
Thursday, May 15
Sunrise: 5:45 A.M.
Sunset: 8:09 P.M.
Moonrise: 11:32 P.M.
Moonset: 7:19 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (92%)
Friday, May 16
Sunrise: 5:44 A.M.
Sunset: 8:10 P.M.
Moonrise: —
Moonset: 8:15 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (85%)
Saturday, May 17
Sunrise: 5:43 A.M.
Sunset: 8:11 P.M.
Moonrise: 12:19 A.M.
Moonset: 9:18 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (78%)
Sunday, May 18
The Moon passes 0.4° south of the dwarf planet Pluto at 8 A.M. EDT. Both are now in Capricornus, although the bright Moon will make viewing the dim, distant planet a challenge in the predawn sky.
Sunrise: 5:42 A.M.
Sunset: 8:12 P.M.
Moonrise: 12:58 A.M.
Moonset: 10:25 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (69%)
Monday, May 19
Sunrise: 5:41 A.M.
Sunset: 8:12 P.M.
Moonrise: 1:31 A.M.
Moonset: 11:35 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (59%)
Tuesday, May 20
Last Quarter Moon occurs at 7:59 A.M. EDT. This phase of the Moon offers observers a chance to focus on our satellite’s western limb, including the huge, dark Ocean of Storms that stretches more than 1,600 miles (2,500 km) and is prominent in the lunar southwest.
A much smaller but nonetheless noticeable dark feature southwest of the Ocean of Storms and near the western limb is the crater Grimaldi. Stretching nearly 140 miles (122 km) across, Grimaldi’s smooth, flat floor lies above a so-called mascon, or concentration of mass beneath the lunar surface, of the sort often found beneath its larger, lava-covered maria. Use a telescope to scan the crater’s floor and look for subtle features such as mounds and ridges, which can be a fun challenge to pick out through the eyepiece.
Not far south of Grimaldi is a crater that appears its opposite: the bright, rayed crater Byrgius. A much smaller 54 miles (87 km) across, Byrgius’ floor is pocked with numerous small craters. The bright ray system actually emanates from Byrgius A, a smaller crater overlapping the larger main Byrgius’ rim, indicating the former came much later in cosmic time.
Sunrise: 5:40 A.M.
Sunset: 8:13 P.M.
Moonrise: 1:59 A.M.
Moonset: 12:45 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (48%)
Wednesday, May 21
Sunrise: 5:40 A.M.
Sunset: 8:14 P.M.
Moonrise: 2:24 A.M.
Moonset: 1:56 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (37%)
Thursday, May 22
The Moon hangs near Saturn and Neptune in the early-morning sky, and it’s best to catch them earlier rather than later. Try looking east 90 minutes before sunrise, where you’ll easily spot the crescent Moon in southwestern Pisces, below the Circlet asterism.
Just to the lower left of the Moon is 1st-magnitude Saturn, visible to the naked eye. Now, scan 2° northeast of Saturn — directly to the left on the sky — with binoculars or a telescope to find distant Neptune. The ice giant shines at 8th magnitude and will look like a “flat,” dim star that may have a grayish or bluish cast.
The Moon passes 3° north of Saturn at 2 P.M. EDT, then passes 2° north of Neptune at 5 P.M. EDT.
Sunrise: 5:39 A.M.
Sunset: 8:15 P.M.
Moonrise: 2:48 A.M.
Moonset: 3:09 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (26%)
Friday, May 23
Let’s return to the morning sky, where the Moon is now situated between magnitude 1.1 Saturn and magnitude –4.5 Venus in the east an hour before dawn.
If you were outside yesterday morning, you’ll note that the Moon is now a thinner crescent as it wanes toward New. Only its western limb is directly sunlit. But look for earthshine lighting up its shadowed face, as sunlight bounces off Earth to illuminate regions of the Moon already experiencing night.
The Moon will pass 4° north of Venus at 8 P.M. EDT tonight.
Sunrise: 5:38 A.M.
Sunset: 8:16 P.M.
Moonrise: 3:12 A.M.
Moonset: 4:23 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waning crescent (17%)
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 |
