Blue Moon in May 2026
When it occurs: The Blue Moon — the second full moon of May 2026 — will fall on Sunday, May 31, 2026. It will reach peak illumination at 08:45 UTC (4:45 a.m. EDT).
When to see: Look for the Blue Moon rising in the southeast around sunset on May 30, 2026. It will reach its highest point in the southern sky around midnight and set in the southwest around sunrise on May 31, 2026.
Blue Moon near Antares: The Blue Moon will appear very close to the bright star Antares on the night of May 30-31, 2026. Antares is the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius, the Scorpion.
Blue Moon lies in Scorpius: The Blue Moon will lie in front of the zodiac constellation Scorpius, the Scorpion.
Micro Blue Moon: The Blue Moon on May 31, 2026, will be a micromoon, as it will occur near its apogee—the farthest point from Earth in its elliptical orbit. The Micro Blue Moon will be about 406,135 km away, compared to the moon’s average distance of 384,400 km.
Why is the full moon on May 31 called a Blue Moon?
When someone says, “once in a Blue Moon,” you know they are talking about something rare.
When a second full moon occurs in a single calendar month, it is called a Blue Moon. Such events are rare, occurring once every two to three years. A Blue Moon is not actually blue in color. In fact, it looks no different from a regular full moon.
There are two full moons in May 2026. The first was the Flower Moon on May 1, and the second will be on May 31. Therefore, the full moon on May 31 will be a Blue Moon — more specifically, a monthly Blue Moon.
After May 31, the next monthly Blue Moon will occur on December 31, 2028. It will coincide with a total lunar eclipse, during which the moon will turn a deep reddish color.
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