Look to the Sky

Tonight's full moon is called the Milk Moon, or Flower Moon, named in honor of the wildflowers blooming this time of year and for the Month of Three Milkings.

The latter refers to a name recorded by Venerable Bede in De Temporibus (708) in reference to May, when cows could apparently be milked three times a day.

*

Comet Swan was discovered last month, and is currently travelling about 85,000 miles towards Earth.  On May 13 it will make its closest approach to us, and then on May 27, it will be closest to the Sun.  As they near the Sun, comets are blasted with radiation.  This warming leads to a release of gas and dust, which are the tails we can see.

Astronomers say it has a greenish color, so keep a lookout - although it will be best seen from the southern hemisphere.