A Rare Blue ‘Micromoon’ Is Rising at the End of May
The full Moon will appear slightly smaller than usual as it reaches apogee, making this month’s second full Moon a rare double event.
- Early on Sunday, May 31, the moon will reach its full phase for the second time in a single calendar month, creating a monthly Blue Moon that's also a micromoon, appearing slightly smaller because Earth's satellite reaches its farthest orbital point.
- The mismatch between the moon's 29.5-day cycle and our Gregorian Calendar's 30- or 31-day months occasionally allows two full moons to fall within the same month; since the moon completes slightly more than 12 orbits annually, every few years an extra full moon squeezes in.
- May 1's Flower Moon was the first full moon this month; roughly 29.5 days later, the Blue Moon peaks at 4:45 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 31, according to the Farmer's Almanac.
- Despite its name, the Blue Moon will glow orange when it rises Saturday evening during dusk, thanks to Rayleigh scattering—a process where Earth's atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths while allowing longer orange wavelengths through.
- Blue Moons recur roughly every two and a half years, making May 31's event uncommon but predictable; the next monthly Blue Moon won't occur until December 31, 2028, while a seasonal variant appears May 20, 2027.
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The astronomical calendar of May will close with an unusual phenomenon that aroused the interest of fans and specialists. It is the arrival of a Blue Moon that, moreover, will coincide with a Micromoon, an astronomical event that will make the natural satellite look smaller than usual.The phenomenon will be observed on May 31st and will mark the second full Moon of the same calendar month.The first occurred on May 1st, which makes this new lunar…
The Independent
Western Morning NewsHow to catch this week’s rare blue moon event ― that won’t happen again until 2028
But don’t be disappointed if it’s not bright turquoise
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