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What is a micromoon?
How often does a blue moon occur?
What are the other names for the Flower Moon?
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May 2026 will feature a rare blue moon that is also a micromoon, peaking early on May 31 and visible worldwide under clear skies.
This only happens once in a blue moon, literally. May’s second full moon is almost here, and not only is it a rare blue moon, but it will also be a micromoon.
The blue moon will take place soon, giving us two full moons in the month. Usually, the full moon only occurs once a month. May’s the Flower Moon has already occurred on the first day of the month, and the blue moon will occur on the last day of the month.
Here’s what else to know about May’s blue moon, and what to expect.
When will May’s blue moon peak?
The moon is set to peak on Sunday, May 31, at 4:45 a.m. ET, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
While the moon will peak early Sunday morning, it will still look full a few days before and after it peaks.More news: Astronauts to begin training in replica of Blue Origin’s lunar lander
Where will May’s blue moon be visible?
The blue moon will be visible around the globe, but cloudy skies might obscure backyard astronomers’ views, so be sure to check the weather in your area before going out to check the night sky.
What is a blue moon?
The blue moon occurs when there are two full moons in one month, but the moon won’t actually look blue.
The term originated in the 16th century, when people said “the moon is blue” to mean something that seemed impossible, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
It isn’t a common occurrence, hence the expression “once in a blue moon,” and only occurs every 2.5 years, according to NASA.
The last blue moon occurred on Aug. 19, 2024, when the moon was a super blue moon, meaning, unlike the micromoon, it was closest it had been to Earth that month and appeared brighter and larger.
What is a micromoon?
A micromoon is a phenomenon that occurs when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth during that month, according to NASA. The moon could be around 251,000 miles away from our planet.
Because of the distance, the moon might appear smaller than usual.
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Why does this month have 2 full moons?
The phenomenon happens because, unlike a calendar month, which is around 30 to 31 days, except for February, the moon’s lunar cycle is around 29.5 days, according to NASA.
So, once every two to three years, a full lunar cycle will occur within a month, giving us a full moon at the beginning of the month and another at the end of the month, which is what we know as the blue moon.
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The next time two full moons will take place in the same month will be in December 2028, according to Time and Date.
2026 full moons
The moon will be full on the following dates, according to the Farmer’s Almanac:
- Blue Moon: Peaks May 31, at 4:45 a.m. ET
- Strawberry Moon: Peaks June 29, at 7:57 p.m. ET
- Buck Moon: Peaks July 29, at 10:36 a.m. ET
- Sturgeon Moon (partial lunar eclipse): Peaks Aug. 28, at 12:18 a.m. ET
- Harvest Moon: Peaks Sept. 26, at 12:49 p.m. ET
- Hunter’s Moon: Peaks Oct. 26, at 12:12 a.m. ET
- Beaver Moon (super moon): Peaks Nov. 24, at 9:53 a.m. ET
- Cold Moon (super moon): Peaks Dec. 23, at 8:28 p.m.
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, space phenomena, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.