This month's full moon reaches peak illumination at 12:56 p.m. EDT (17:56 GMT) and is known as the 'Flower Moon' to some in North America and Europe owing to the abundant seasonal wildflower blooms that appear during this time of year.

For early risers, the moon will be seen descending near the southwestern horizon before dawn on May 13. At the same time, Saturn, Venus, and Neptune will be making their appearance in the eastern sky—offering a celestial treat to cap off the event.

The full moon on May 12 is also called the flower moon because of the abundance of flowers that bloom in the spring. This moon has many other names, but the Center for Native American Studies says that the Great Lakes region calls it the “sucker moon” after the sucker fish.