‘Flower moon’ to be visible in Kansas soon. Here’s when to see it — and possibly meteors
Kansas stargazers have plenty to look forward to in May, including a festive full moon and a chance to potentially see meteors.
The “flower moon” will peak at 12:34 p.m. Friday and will appear full from early Thursday morning to early Sunday morning, according to NASA.
“As usual, the wearing of suitably celebratory celestial attire is encouraged in honor of the full Moon,” NASA’s website says. “Enjoy the flowers of spring!”
If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the flower moon while it appears full and it’s dark enough to shine, Friday night might be your best bet, according to the National Weather Service Wichita office’s forecast.
Friday night should be “mostly clear” in Wichita, the NWS reports, with a low around 58 degrees. There’s a chance of thunderstorms Thursday and Saturday night.
Here’s what to know about the flower moon and more upcoming sights to see in the night sky.
Where does the flower moon get its name?
The name “flower moon” is attributed to the Algonquin peoples, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. As you might expect, it celebrates the flowers springing across North America in early May.
May’s full moon also goes by these names, according to NASA:
Corn or corn planting moon
Milk moon (old English name)
Hare’s moon
Vesak or Buddha Purnima (Vesak is a Buddhist holiday.)
More full moons in 2023
Here’s the rest of this year’s full moon calendar, with information from Space.com:
June 3: Strawberry moon
July 3: Buck supermoon
Aug. 1: Sturgeon supermoon
Aug. 30: Blue supermoon (appears biggest and brightest of the year)
Sept. 29: Harvest supermoon
Oct. 28: Hunter’s moon
Nov. 27: Beaver moon
Dec. 26: Cold moon
These moons have multiple names, and many come from Indigenous cultures. The Old Farmer’s Almanac uses Indigenous moon names, along with monikers from colonial America and other North American sources.
In addition to the flower moon, there will also be a meteor shower in May. The Eta Aquarid shower began activity April 19, will peak May 6 and will end around May 28, according to Astronomy.com.
The flower moon’s peak is expected to interfere with the meteor shower, so it’s possible only the brightest meteors will be visible. Astronomy.com recommends observing in the early mornings during the first few days of May.
To get a closer look at the flower moon, you could visit the Lake Afton Public Observatory between 9 and 11:30 p.m. Friday or Saturday.
Reservations can be made online for the observatory, but they are not required. Admission is $8 for those 14 years and older, $4 for youth ages 5 to 13 and $7 for adults 65 and older. Immediate family pricing is available for $20.
