Moon Phases May 1988
The full moon in May 1988 is on 1 May at 23:40 UTC — traditionally called the Flower Moon. The new moon falls on 15 May at 22:10 UTC. May 1988 holds a second full moon on 31 May at 10:53 UTC — a Blue Moon. Times are UTC.
Why the May 1988 full moon is called the Flower Moon
Named for the abundance of flowers in late spring.
These are the traditional Colonial and Native American names popularised by the farmers’ almanacs. They are folklore, not astronomy — the phase dates and times on this page are computed and verifiable, the names are naming convention.
Moon phase day by day
| Day | Phase | Illumination |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Moon | 100% |
| 2 | Full Moon | 100% |
| 3 | Full Moon | 97% |
| 4 | Waning Gibbous | 93% |
| 5 | Waning Gibbous | 86% |
| 6 | Waning Gibbous | 78% |
| 7 | Last Quarter | 68% |
| 8 | Last Quarter | 57% |
| 9 | Last Quarter | 45% |
| 10 | Last Quarter | 34% |
| 11 | Waning Crescent | 24% |
| 12 | Waning Crescent | 15% |
| 13 | Waning Crescent | 7% |
| 14 | New Moon | 3% |
| 15 | New Moon | 0% |
| 16 | New Moon | 1% |
| 17 | New Moon | 3% |
| 18 | Waxing Crescent | 8% |
| 19 | Waxing Crescent | 14% |
| 20 | Waxing Crescent | 21% |
| 21 | Waxing Crescent | 30% |
| 22 | First Quarter | 39% |
| 23 | First Quarter | 48% |
| 24 | First Quarter | 58% |
| 25 | First Quarter | 67% |
| 26 | Waxing Gibbous | 75% |
| 27 | Waxing Gibbous | 83% |
| 28 | Waxing Gibbous | 90% |
| 29 | Waxing Gibbous | 95% |
| 30 | Full Moon | 99% |
| 31 | Full Moon | 100% |
Illumination at noon (UTC) for each day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the full moon in May 1988?
The full moon in May 1988 is on 1 May at 23:40 UTC, traditionally called the Flower Moon.
What time is the full moon in May 1988?
The moon reaches full phase at 23:40 UTC on 1 May. It looks full to the naked eye for about a day either side of that instant, so the nights before and after are both worth watching.
Why is the May 1988 full moon called the Flower Moon?
Named for the abundance of flowers in late spring. These names come from Colonial and Native American tradition and were popularised by the farmers' almanacs — they are naming convention rather than astronomy, while the phase dates and times on this page are computed and verifiable.
When is the new moon in May 1988?
The new moon in May 1988 is on 15 May at 22:10 UTC.
Is there a Blue Moon in May 1988?
Yes. May 1988 holds two full moons — the second, on 31 May at 10:53 UTC, is a Blue Moon under the common "second full moon in a calendar month" definition. It is not actually blue.