Thursday May 23, 2024

Bright Moon Brushes Antares (evening)

When the very bright and still rather full moon clears the rooftops to the southeast on Thursday evening, May 23 in the Americas, it will be shining
very close to Scorpius' brightest star, reddish Antares. Skywatchers located
in southeastern North America, across northern and eastern South America,
the Ascension Islands, and across the Atlantic to west central Africa will
be able to watch the moon occult Antares through binoculars and backyard telescopes. The surrounding regions will see the moon pass very close to the star. Use an app like Starry Night to look up your own times for the event.
In Miami, the moon will cover the star from 9:13 to 10:19 p.m. EDT. Full
Milk Moon

The moon will reach its full phase on Thursday, May 23 at 9:53 a.m. EDT,
6:53 a.m. PDT, or 13:53 UT. In the Americas, the moon will appear to be full
on both Wednesday and Thursday night, but closer inspection will reveal a
strip of shadow curving along the moon's left and right limb, respectively,
on those nights. Full moons in May always shine in or near the stars of
Libra or Scorpius. The indigenous Ojibwe groups of the Great Lakes region
call the May full moon Zaagibagaa-giizis, the OBudding MoonO or Namebine- giizis, the OSucker MoonO. For them it signifies a time when Mother Earth
again provides healing medicines. The Cree of North America call it Athikipisim, the OFrog MoonO - the time when frogs become active in ponds
and swamps. The Cherokee call it Ahnisguti, the OPlanting MoonO, when the fields are plowed and sown. Other common names are the Milk Moon, Flower
Moon, or Corn Planting Moon.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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