See how Friday is full "flower moon" and penumbral lunar eclipses

Stargazers will be in for a special treat as this year’s Flower Moon will be accompanied by a lunar eclipse.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, Flower Moon is one of the names given to the May full moon because of the abundance of flowers associated with spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also called Planting Moon, Milk Moon and Hair Moon depending on the time and date.

Last MayMillions of people across the Americas, Europe and Africa were able to see the rare “Super Full Blood Moon,” which was a combination of a total lunar eclipse and a full moon at its closest point to Earth, known as a “super moon.”

This year, the Flower Moon will also coincide with a penumbral lunar eclipse — when the moon passes through the outer part of Earth’s shadow — dimming the moon slightly, according to NASA.

How and when to see the flower moon

NASA said the moon will be full from Thursday morning to Sunday morning.

The moon will appear opposite the Sun at 1:34 pm EDT, NASA said, when it will reach its peak brightness. The moon will be below the horizon in the United States at that time, however, so Farmer’s Almanac advises visitors to go outside on Thursday and Friday nights to get the best view of the full moon.

A penumbral lunar eclipse will also occur on May 5, so viewers in Africa, Asia and Australia may see the moon slightly dim, though the effect is easy to miss, according to NASA.

Next year’s Flower Moon is expected to occur on May 23, 2024 at 9:53 AM EDT, according to the time and date.

How and when to view the lunar eclipse

According to NASA, the moon will enter a penumbral lunar eclipse on May 5 at 11:14 a.m. ET.

During this lunar eclipse, the moon will descend almost completely below the Earth’s shadow and touch only the outer part of the shadow, known as the penumbra, which is pale, according to Farmer’s Almanac.

The eclipse will be most visible in the Eastern Hemisphere, particularly in East Africa, Central and East Asia, Indonesia, Australia and southern New Zealand, Farmer’s Almanac said.

Americans unfortunately won’t get a glimpse of the penumbral lunar eclipse.

2022 Flower Moon in picture

The Super Flower Blood Moon is seen over Gaza City, May 15, 2022. (Photo: Sameh Rahmi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The super blood moon appeared through the clouds in the sky. The super blood moon seen after sunset in Istanbul in the evening was seen through the clouds.

Onur Dogman/Getty Images

The moon sets with the angel “Fama” in the morning during a partial lunar eclipse behind the domes of the Frauenkirche and the Kunstdom. Viewers will be able to see a total lunar eclipse this morning, but not everywhere. In some places the moon will disappear behind the horizon in the southwest before fully dipping into Earth’s shadow. So observers can partially see only a partial lunar eclipse.

Robert Michael/Getty Images

Tourists watch the Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon at Parque Fundadores, this astronomical event is the first lunar eclipse of the year known as the Super Moon because the Moon is closer to Earth. May 15, 2022 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

(Natalia Pescador/Getty Images)

A total lunar eclipse on May 15, 2022 in Huntington Beach, California creates a “super blood moon.” A lunar eclipse coincides with a supermoon when the moon is at its closest point to Earth.

Getty Images

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