Principal phases in May 2026
| Phase | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Full moon | ||
| Last quarter | ||
| New moon | ||
| First quarter | ||
| Full moon |
In May 2026: full moon on May 1, last quarter on May 9, new moon on May 16, first quarter on May 23, and full moon on May 31. The dates and times follow Universal Time until your browser converts them to your own time zone, so a phase that falls near midnight can land on the day before or after where you live.
The full moon of May is traditionally called the Flower Moon. That night the Moon is 401,990 km from Earth.
For stars, meteors and the Milky Way, the darkest nights run from May 13 to May 19, around the new moon, when the Moon stays out of the evening sky.