The night sky this weekend is set aglow with this year’s only full Blue Moon.
Following the full Flower Moon on the first day of May, the 31st marks the completion of yet another lunar cycle and the only blue moon of 2026.
What is a Blue Moon?
A blue moon refers to the second full moon in a calendar month, which occurs only about once every two to three years. This year, May is the only month consisting of two full moons, with May 31 bringing the sole blue moon.
This particular blue moon is not to be confused with the alternative definition of a blue moon — AKA the third full moon in a single season of four moons.
Following these definitions, TimeandDate.com has reported that we won’t see two full moons in one month again until Dec. 31, 2028, while the next 3rd full moon in a 4-moon season occurs on May 20, 2027.
What is a micromoon?
This particular full moon is also distinguished by being farther from Earth than average at about 252,360 miles away, earning it the title of a “micromoon.” Compare that to the latest supermoon, which shone at 225,130 miles away — giving it a 27,230-mile viewing advantage.
For this reason, it may appear about 6% smaller and 10% dimmer than a typical full moon, according to the Associated Press, though there are ways to optimize the viewing experience.
When is the best time to see the Full Blue Moon?
The Blue Moon will appear its largest and most dramatic in the sky at dusk on Saturday night — check TimeandDate.com for your local moonrise schedule — just after it crests the Eastern horizon, but later reaches peak illumination at 4:45 a.m. EDT on Sunday morning.
Far from blue, the moon will glow in spectacular red-orange hues as its light penetrates the densest part of the Earth’s atmosphere, just after sunset.
Stargazers are in for an added treat, per Space.com, as this full moon rises on the fringe of the red supergiant star Antares, the heart of the constellation Scorpius, alongside Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, forming a line above the Western horizon.
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