The Moon is gradually moving towards Antares – the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius, known as a red supergiant. This moment coincides with the Full Moon of May, also known as the Hare Moon or Flower Moon.
The Vietnam Astronomy and Cosmology Association (VACA) reports that in the night sky during these days, the Moon is gradually moving towards Antares – the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius. Each night, you will notice the distance between them shortening compared to the previous night. The last night before the Moon passes through Scorpius to the other side is precisely at the time of this month’s Full Moon, 8:53 PM on May 23 (which corresponds to the evening of the 16th day of the 4th lunar month).
Antares is approximately 550 light-years away from Earth.
Antares is a red supergiant star and one of the brightest stars along the Moon’s apparent path, being one of the few stars bright enough to be seen even when quite close to the Full Moon. Its red color and brightness have long led to comparisons with Mars (the fourth planet of the Solar System).
Antares is located about 550 light-years from Earth, with a mass approximately 12.4 times that of the Sun, a radius about 883 times that of the Sun, and a surface temperature of around 3,400K. It has a companion star known as Antares B, which has a mass about 10 times that of the Sun and a surface temperature of approximately 18,500K.
The name Antares originates from a word in ancient Greek, equivalent to “anti-Ares”, meaning “opposite to Ares” or “rival to Ares,” because this star, when viewed in the night sky, also has a red and very bright glow. The name serves as a metaphor comparing it to the adversary of Mars – the planet named after the god of war, Ares.
According to VACA, the Full Moon in May is referred to by Europeans as the “Hare Moon.” However, it has no connection to the story of the Jade Rabbit and Chang’e from Chinese mythology. The reason for this name is that in many regions of Europe, this is the time of year when rabbits breed rapidly, and people begin to set traps for them.
Meanwhile, in North America, the Full Moon of May has another name: “Flower Moon”, as this is the time when many types of flowers bloom extensively in this region.
