As full moons go, next month’s will be beyond the ordinary. The so-called Full Pink Moon in May, named after the month’s blooms, will appear to have shrunk to a miniature size and dimmed noticeably darker, and will also block out the red star Antares—the “heart of the scorpion” in Scorpius.
Peaking on May 12 at 12:56 p.m. EDT, the Full Pink Moon will rise to the east and hang relatively low in the sky, as it will around the spring equinox. But a keen observer might notice a distinct difference in its appearance.
It’s no trick of the eye, nor is it the “moon illusion.” This May full moon will be a micro moon, which is the opposite of a super moon—where the moon appears larger than normal, as much as 8 percent larger, and glows up to 15 percent brighter. A micro moon appears about 5 percent smaller and 10 percent dimmer than usual….