Stargazers in Pakistan and around the world can look forward to seeing the Flower Moon — the first full moon of May — on the night of Sunday, May 12. This full moon will appear a bit smaller and dimmer than usual because it occurs when the moon is farthest from Earth in its orbit, a phenomenon known as a micromoon.
The Flower Moon will rise in the eastern sky at twilight and remain visible throughout the night, setting in the west at sunrise. In Pakistan, it will be best seen shortly after sunset on May 12, though near-full visibility is also expected on the nights of May 11 and 13.
Unlike a supermoon — which appears larger and brighter due to its close proximity to Earth — a micromoon takes place when the moon is at its farthest point, or apogee, in its elliptical path. This makes the moon look slightly smaller and fainter than usual to the human eye.
The Flower Moon is set to reach its peak illumination at 9:56 PM PKT, shortly after darkness falls across Pakistan. For optimal viewing, skywatchers should seek out spots with a clear, unobstructed view of the eastern horizon, though moonrise times may differ slightly by region.
When rising or setting, the Flower Moon may take on a soft orange glow — a visual effect caused by Rayleigh scattering, the same process responsible for the colors of a sunset. As the moon sits low in the sky, Earth’s atmosphere filters out shorter blue wavelengths, allowing the warmer red and orange tones to shine through.
The next full moon — the Strawberry Moon — will appear on June 11, marking the final full moon before the summer solstice on June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere.