Fans of the full Moon are preparing for this weekend's Flower Moon to rise in the evening sky.
But one photographer has been out early this morning, Friday 1 May, to capture the Flower Moon setting on the horizon.
More lunar photography
Giovanni Passalacqua sent us this image of the full Moon above the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata in Ispica, south-east Sicily, just as dawn was breaking.
It shows the Flower Moon low on the horizon, giving us a preview of the full Moon that will be visible this Friday and Saturday night, 1–2 May 2026.
A huge, red Flower Moon
The Flower Moon is the name given to the full Moon that rises in May, because it's visible at the height of spring, when flowers are fully in bloom.
But it's not the only full Moon we'll see in May 2026. There will be another full Moon visible on 31 May, and that's known by some as a 'monthly blue Moon', as it's the second blue Moon in a calendar month.
However, that's not the true astronomical meaning of a blue Moon.
The reason the Flower Moon looks orange or red in these images is not a camera trick: it's a well-known phenomenon that may occur whenever the Moon is close to the horizon.
The reason a low-down Moon may appear red is the same reason the setting or rising Sun looks red.
It's because when a celestial object is low on the horizon, its light has to pass through a thicker portion of Earth's atmosphere.
That scatters the bluer wavelengths of light, leaving wavelengths closer to the red end of the spectrum to filter through, making the full Moon appear a deep rust colour and standing in stark contrast to the bright, white full Moon we see when it's higher in the sky.
If you're heading out to spot the Moon this weekend, read our top tips for observing the 2026 Flower Moon and our complete Flower Moon guide.
Capture details
- Equipment: Canon EOS R DSLR camera, Sigma 600mm lens, Manfrotto tripod
- Exposure: f/6.3, ISO 400, 0.8s
- Software: Photoshop
- Date and time: 1 January 2026, 05:23 (local time)
If you photograph the Flower Moon this weekend, share your images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
