This weekend, the night sky will showcase the only full blue moon of the year.
After the full Flower Moon on May 1st, another lunar cycle wraps up on the 31st, making it the sole Blue Moon for 2026.
What is a blue moon?
A blue moon refers to the second full moon that occurs within a single calendar month, and this phenomenon happens about every two to three years. In 2026, May is unique—it’s the only month featuring two full moons, with May 31st marking the blue moon.
It’s worth noting, though, that there is another definition of a blue moon: it can also be the third full moon in a season that has four full moons.
In fact, as noted by TimeandDate.com, we won’t see this occurrence of two full moons in a month again until December 31, 2028. However, the third full moon in a four-moon season will pop up on May 20, 2027.
What is a micromoon?
This blue moon is also classified as a “micromoon” because it’s about 252,360 miles farther from Earth than what’s deemed average. Comparatively, the previous supermoon appeared about 325,130 miles away. This distance affects visibility, making it seem around 6% smaller and about 10% dimmer than a typical full moon. According to the Associated Press, there are strategies to enhance your viewing experience.
When is the best time to see a full blue moon?
The blue moon will be most impressive to view at dusk on Saturday night. You might want to check your local moonrise times for the best view. Shortly after rising above the eastern horizon, it will achieve peak illumination at 4:45 a.m. EDT on Sunday.
Interestingly, right after sunset, instead of appearing blue, the moon radiates a beautiful red-orange hue as its light filters through the densest parts of Earth’s atmosphere.
And for stargazers, there’s even more to anticipate. This full moon will coincide with the appearances of Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury near the prominent red supergiant star, Antares, located at the heart of the Scorpius constellation, creating an appealing alignment on the western horizon.
