Final supermoon of 2020: ‘Flower’ Moon will rise TONIGHT promising a glorious display

The year’s final supermoon will be at its most impressive today with the so-called ‘Flower Moon’ appearing six per cent larger than normal.

It is the third and final supermoon of 2020 and it is also set to be less visually striking than the other two, which occurred on March 9 and April 7-8. 

The moon will be at its fullest at 11.45am BST this morning, but it will not be visible in the UK at this time. 

However, the moon will be at its most impressive before it sets this morning at around 5.42 BST and also after moonrise around 8.45pm BST later this evening.

Its name comes from the period of increased fertility and blooming plants during early May and it is also called Mother’s Moon, Milk Moon and Corn Planting Moon.

 

The Flower Moon, and the last supermoon of the year, rose over Rivington Pike in Bolton, Lancashire last night. The moon will be at its fullest at 11.45am this morning, but it will not be visible in the UK at this time. Moonrise times vary across the UK, but not by more than around 10 minutes

The Flower Moon is seen 99% full as it rises behind Victoria Tower on Castle Hill on May 6 in Huddersfield. The moon will be at its most impressive before it sets this morning at around 5.42 BST, and also after moonrise around 8.45pm BST tonight

The Flower Moon is seen 99% full as it rises behind Victoria Tower on Castle Hill on May 6 in Huddersfield. The moon will be at its most impressive before it sets this morning at around 5.42 BST, and also after moonrise around 8.45pm BST tonight

The Flower Moon is also a supermoon, meaning it will be about six per cent larger than a typical full moon and around 14 per cent bigger than a micromoon, which is when the moon is at its furthest point from Earth. Pictured, the moon rises over Windsor Castle in Berkshire last night

The Flower Moon is also a supermoon, meaning it will be about six per cent larger than a typical full moon and around 14 per cent bigger than a micromoon, which is when the moon is at its furthest point from Earth. Pictured, the moon rises over Windsor Castle in Berkshire last night

A pigeon sits on a roof top as the last supermoon of the year, termed the Flower Moon, rises over Saltburn. The moon is visible to the naked eye and does not require a telescope or specialist equipment to see

A pigeon sits on a roof top as the last supermoon of the year, termed the Flower Moon, rises over Saltburn. The moon is visible to the naked eye and does not require a telescope or specialist equipment to see 

Greg Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory, said: ‘Technically the exact moment of full moon is 11.45am, however the moon will not be visible in the sky in the UK at that time.’

The moon is expected to rise over London at 8.44pm BST tonight. It will be also be larger than normal early this morning, before it disappears from the sky at 5.42am.

Mr Brown said: ‘Times for moonrise and set vary slightly across the UK, but not by more than about 10 minutes or so.’ 

This full moon will also be a supermoon, meaning it will be about six per cent larger than a typical full moon and around 14 per cent bigger than a micromoon, which is when the moon is at its furthest point from Earth. 

Dr Brown said: ‘The moon’s orbit around the Earth is not entirely circular, instead a slightly flattened circle or ellipse.

‘As such, it is sometimes closer to and sometimes further away from the Earth.

‘While definitions vary, a supermoon typically occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon being within the closest 10 per cent of its orbit.’

Dr Brown also said this event would be the third and final supermoon of this year.

Pictured, the moon rises over Tower Bridge in London last night. The Flower Moon is also sometimes referred to as the Mother's Moon, Milk Moon, and Corn Planting Moon, referencing a time of increased fertility in early May. The moon is expected to rise over London at 8.44pm BST tonight

Pictured, the moon rises over Tower Bridge in London last night. The Flower Moon is also sometimes referred to as the Mother’s Moon, Milk Moon, and Corn Planting Moon, referencing a time of increased fertility in early May. The moon is expected to rise over London at 8.44pm BST tonight

Pictured, the moon on Tuesday night over Reading, UK. The moon is the third and final in a series of supermoons that began in March, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac

Pictured, the moon on Tuesday night over Reading, UK. The moon is the third and final in a series of supermoons that began in March, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac

Pictured, the silhouette of a narcissus flower with a moon background taken on Tuesday night in Turkey. The full moon comes in the midst of another celestial display - the Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower, which reached its peak on Wednesday

Pictured, the silhouette of a narcissus flower with a moon background taken on Tuesday night in Turkey. The full moon comes in the midst of another celestial display – the Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower, which reached its peak on Wednesday

He added: ‘Because of how the dynamics of orbits work, these usually occur in runs of two or three with longer gaps of several months between each set of suquamoons.’

The full moon comes in the midst of another celestial display – the Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower, which reached its peak on Wednesday.

The Eta Aquariids take place every year from the middle of April until the end of May, when Earth passes through the stream of debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.

This result in dozens of shooting stars every hour. Like today’s supermoon, they were visible with the naked eye and did not require a telescope or specialist equipment.

The next supermoon will be visible in April 2021, with the Flower Moon being the last one of 2020. 

The moon in the early hours yesterday. It will be even more spectacular this morning and tonight, when the Flower Moon will reach its most impressive. The next supermoon will be visible in April 2021, with the Flower Moon being the last one of 2020

The moon in the early hours yesterday. It will be even more spectacular this morning and tonight, when the Flower Moon will reach its most impressive. The next supermoon will be visible in April 2021, with the Flower Moon being the last one of 2020

This full moon will be a supermoon, meaning it will be about six per cent larger than a typical full moon and around 14 per cent bigger than a micromoon, which is when the moon is at its furthest point from Earth. Pictured, the moon yesterday morning above houses in Bamburgh, Northumberland

This full moon will be a supermoon, meaning it will be about six per cent larger than a typical full moon and around 14 per cent bigger than a micromoon, which is when the moon is at its furthest point from Earth. Pictured, the moon yesterday morning above houses in Bamburgh, Northumberland

NASA: 'The Eta Aquariids are pieces of debris from Halley’s Comet, which is a well-known comet that is viewable from Earth approximately every 76 years'

NASA: ‘The Eta Aquariids are pieces of debris from Halley’s Comet, which is a well-known comet that is viewable from Earth approximately every 76 years’

Tuesday saw another celestial showcase private astronomers, with the conclusion of the Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower. The Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower saw several days where dozens of shooting stars could be seen an hour, with its peak being at Tuesday around 1:20am UTC

Tuesday saw another celestial showcase private astronomers, with the conclusion of the Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower. The Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower saw several days where dozens of shooting stars could be seen an hour, with its peak being at Tuesday around 1:20am UTC

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