Full Moon of May 2023: a Flower Moon with Lunar Eclipse

On Friday, May 5, we had a full moon and it was a very special full moon, as it was accompanied by a penumbral lunar eclipse, the second eclipse of the year. To this full moon in May it is popularly known as Flower Moonamong other names, and marked, as every year, one of the most important celebrations in Buddhist culture: Vesak day.

Of the thirteen full moons that 2023 will have, the full moon in May was the fifth. It has also been the second full moon of spring in the northern hemisphere, and autumn in the southern hemisphere.

By the way, if the name “Flower Moon” is unfamiliar to you, stick with it, because in the coming months it will sound a lot and it will help you understand the title of one of the most anticipated film releases of the year, scheduled for the month of October. The Flower Moon Killers It is the last film directed by Martin Scorsese.based on the best-selling nonfiction book of 2017 Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBIby journalist David Grann.

Below we give you more details, but we anticipate that the name given to the Flower Moon by the Osage people in Oklahoma was slightly different: they called it… the moon that kills the flowers! We will tell you why.

When was the full moon of May 2023

The full Moon of May 2023 in Spain occurred Friday, May 5 at 7:31 p.m. Spanish peninsular time, when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Sun from the Earth. At that moment the light of the Sun completely illuminates the face of the Moon that faces the Earth and that is why we see it full.

How was the full moon

The full moon phase occurred from an astronomical point of view a little before the Moon rose above the horizon on Friday the 5th. When he did, around 9:00 p.m., the sun had set and the moon was already fully illuminated. Just a few minutes later, the moment of maximum magnitude of the lunar eclipse occurred in our area (although it was not the phase of maximum magnitude of the entire eclipse, which had already passed).

The Moon was also completely full throughout the night on Saturday.

It shone near a double star known as Zubenelgenubi or Alpha Librae, the second brightest star in the constellation Libra. It also shone near the reddish star Antares., from the constellation Scorpio. From the astrological point of view, it is precisely considered that we had full moon in scorpio.

How to photograph the Moon

Have you ever tried to photograph the full Moon? Surely you have realized that photographing the Moon can be a challenge, and it is that it is even for experienced photographers. Some knowledge of night photography and suitable equipment are required. But of course the photos of the Moon are fascinating, especially those of the full Moon.

The Full moon of May 2023 It also has the incentive that it will be slightly darkened by the lunar eclipse, which It can give us game when taking pictures and check the differences before and after the eclipse. In your photographic compositions, a photograph of the full Moon can also give a magical and mysterious touch to the image.

If you venture to capture the image of the full Moon, with the right equipment and following some tips, you may be able to obtain impressive images. Here are some steps for taking photos of the Moon:

Equipment: You’ll need a camera with a manual exposure option, a stable tripod to keep the camera still, and a telephoto lens with a focal length of at least 200mm.Choose the place and time well: Better choose a site with little light pollution, better away from urban centers. The first hours of the night and the last hours of the morning will be the most appropriate, since the Moon will be lower. Camera settings: Set the camera to manual mode and adjust the settings for exposure, aperture, and shutter speed. Start with an aperture of f/11, a shutter speed of 1/125, and an ISO of 100. If the Moon appears too dark, increase the shutter speed to make the image brighter. It is important not to use shutter speeds that are too slow, as this will blur the image.Approach: Adjust the camera focus manually and check that the moon is in focus before taking the photo.Stability: Place the camera on the tripod and make sure it is level and stable. This will reduce camera shake and allow you to take sharper photos.Take the picture: Once everything is set up, take the photo. Make sure the camera’s timer or remote is set to prevent any camera shake.

Why is it called Flower Moon?

The name Flower Moon given to the full Moon in May comes from the American tradition collected in The Old Farmer’s Almanac, The Traditional North American Farmer’s Almanac.

flower moon name refers to the intense flowering that takes place throughout the month, in the middle of spring, as the days get longer and the temperatures soften. Many of the other names in the almanac, used by other Native American Indian tribes, and names from other traditions are related to this natural phenomenon. It is believed that the name of Luna de flores (flower moon in English) comes specifically from the Algonquins, a native people of eastern Canada.

The Flower Moon Killers

The film is scheduled to be released in October 2023. The Flower Moon Killersbased on the book of the same title that narrates the murder in the 1920s of twenty members of the Osage tribe of Oklahomaand the subsequent investigation of the crimes by the FBI.

Journalist David Grann chose this title for his book on Homage to the Osage name for the May Moon, slightly different from the one that has become popular in the North American almanac. He explains it in the first pages of the book.

The Osage called the May Moon the “Moon that kills the flowers“, because at this time the great growth of the plants, each time taller and stronger, “drowned” the small flowers that had emerged at the beginning of spring. Thus, it becomes a metaphor for racism, death and injusticeas explained in the newspaper The Oklahomanwho preyed on the Osage nation at the time of the murders narrated in the novel and, now, in the Martin Scorsese film.

Leonardo Dicaprio stars in the film with robert deniro, Jesse Plemons, lily gladstone and brendan fraser.

Other names for the full moon in May

The full moon in May is also known as bud moon either Corn plantation or plantation moon in the American tradition.

At the beginning of May we are at the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Changes in nature are also reflected in the behavior of animals and hence other names that allude to their activity at this time, such as egg laying moon, frog moon either Luna shedding on ponies.

For the Anglo-Saxon European culture, the May Moon was the milk moon, and the month of May was known as the “month of the three milkings”, since the cows were milked at this time of the year up to three times a day. In Celtic and English culture, people spoke of the mothers moonthe bright moonthe Hare Moon and the grass moon.

In Buddhist culture The full moon in May is very important, as it is when the Vesak day, the anniversary of the birth of Buddha, and also that of his enlightenment and his death. The anniversary is not celebrated on a fixed day of the month, but is established with the lunar calendar, coinciding with the full moon. Is considered the holiest day for the millions of Buddhists living in the world and a very propitious day for meditation.

How the full moon influences Scorpio

The full Moon of May in Scorpio supposes, according to astrology, a time to bring to light what we do not want to see about ourselveswhat we hide or do not accept, and thus integrate it as a part of us that sometimes conditions us and makes us feel uncomfortable.

“By bringing understanding to that part that limits us and interferes in our day to day unconsciously, we will feel how everything softens”, explains Marga Roldán, who knows the secrets of evolutionary astrology. “This Moon allows us to flourish in a loving way by helping us bring clarity to those parts of our conditioned personality that we consider to be ‘dark’, and in this way live in a more authentic and genuine way“.

“Recognizing attachments, frustrations, and even envy as a part of our personality structure paves the way for us to express ourselves from our authentic being,” says Marga Roldán. “The full Moon in Scorpio this month is like a phoenix that rises from its ashes over and over again each time that we discover and accept those parts of ourselves that we least like to show and that, from the unconscious, dominate us and lead to situations that have nothing to do with us.”

When will the next full moon be?

The next full moon of 2023 will be the sunday june 4 and is known as Strawberry Moon.

In 2024 the full Moon of May will take place on the 23rd.