The night sky is bursting with celestial highlights this week. Monday brings May's full Flower Moon. Then on Tuesday, the moon glides past Antares, the red heart of Scorpius, offering a dramatic pairing (and even a lunar occultation for some lucky viewers). Later in the week, scan the skies for Berenice's Hair and the shimmering colors of stars across the spectrum, from icy blue Vega to fiery red Antares. Binoculars in hand? Even better.
Here's what's happening overhead — and why you'll want to look up.
Look up tonight to catch May's full moon, known as the Flower Moon. It'll appear full both Sunday and Monday night. Indigenous names like "Frog Moon" and "Planting Moon" reflect spring's renewal. Spot it shining among the stars of Libra or Scorpius.
On Tuesday night, the nearly full moon passes close to Antares, the red heart of Scorpius. In parts of the South Pacific and South America, the moon will cover the star — a rare treat called a lunar occultation. Binoculars enhance the view!
The faint constellation Coma Berenices, or Berenice's Hair, sparkles high in the southern sky this week. Look near Leo's tail and the Big Dipper. Binoculars will reveal the Coma Star Cluster — a gorgeous scatter of stars nicknamed the Cobweb Cluster or Melotte 111.
The Summer Triangle climbs higher each evening. Look for blue-white Vega, Deneb, and Altair. Orange Arcturus and red Antares contrast beautifully. These colors hint at stellar temperatures — from Antares' cool 3,500 K to Vega's hot 10,000 K. A colorful night sky show awaits!
My favorite moon phase to look out for this week is (surprise, surprise) the full moon tonight! The exact moment of full moon occurs at 12:55 p.m. Eastern Time (1656 GMT) on May 12, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory, but local moonrise times will depend on your location. If you miss the moon tonight, don't worry, it'll still appear almost full for another night or two.
Feeling inspired to take a more in-depth moonlit tour of our rocky companion? Our ultimate guide to observing the moon will help you plan your next skywatching venture, whether it be exploring the lunar seas, mountainous terrain, or the many craters that blanket the landscape. You can also see where astronauts, rovers and landers have ventured with our Apollo landing sites observing guide.
Astrophotographer Greg Meyer captured a breathtaking view of the Rho Ophiuchi stellar nursery and Messier 4 globular cluster while attending a stargazing event in Texas last month.
"A favorite among astrophotographers, I wanted to try it from a dark sky area, and I was at the Texas Star Party in April 2025," Meyer told Space.com in an email.
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