What are the Blue Moon and Micromoon on 31 May 2026?

Astronomy enthusiasts and lovers of the night sky have reason to celebrate as May 2026 will feature an exceptionally rare celestial event. This month will bring not one, but two full moons. The first, known as the Flower Moon, occurred on 1 May. The second, set to grace the night sky on the night of 30 to 31 May 2026, is popularly called a Blue Moon.

What makes this Blue Moon special is that it will also be a Micromoon—the smallest and most distant full moon of 2026. This occurs when the Moon is at apogee, its farthest point from Earth in its monthly orbit. On 30-31 May, the Moon will be approximately 252,360 miles (406,134 km) from Earth, significantly farther than the average Earth-Moon distance of about 238,900 miles (384,472 km).

As a result, the late-May Blue Moon will appear around 7 per cent dimmer than a typical full moon and 25 to 30 per cent dimmer compared to a Supermoon. Although its size will seem slightly smaller in the sky, this change will be barely noticeable to the naked eye.

The peak of the second full moon will occur on 31 May 2026 at 08:45 UTC. Due to time zone differences, optimal viewing times vary globally: in the Americas, Europe, and Africa, the fullest appearance will be on the evening of 30 May, while in Asia (including Indonesia), Australia, and New Zealand, the most aesthetically pleasing moment will be on the evening of 31 May.

Adding to the spectacle, the Blue Moon and Micromoon will appear near the bright star Antares, known as the ‘Heart of the Scorpion’ in the Scorpius constellation.