Skygazers will see two full moons in May – at the start and end of the month.
Here’s what to know about May’s two full moons.
When will we see a full moon in May 2026?
There are two full moons in May.
The first will be at the start of the month on May 1 and is called the flower moon. The second closes out the month on May 31 and is called the blue moon, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The flower moon will reach its peak at 1:23 p.m. ET and the blue moon will reach peak at 4:45 a.m. ET, according to space.com.
Both full moons in May are also considered a micromoon, according to the BBC Sky at Night – this will occur just before apogee, the point at which the moon is farthest from Earth in its elliptical orbit. When the full moon appears, the moon will be smaller and dimmer than usual. Both May full moons will appear slightly smaller than normal.
Why is the first full moon called the flower moon?
The flower moon’s name is pretty simple. It is because the full moon lands during spring and many flowers are blooming. The nickname flower moon has also been attributed to Algonquin peoples, a Native American tribe, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Why is the second full moon called the blue moon?
The second full moon in May, the blue moon, does not appear blue. The truth is, it wasn’t named after anything, but became a trend after a mistake was printed in a 1946 issue of Sky & Telescope Magazine, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac.
How common is a blue moon?
Blue moons are not all that uncommon, occurring every two to three years, according to Royal Museums Greenwich. After May 31, blue moons will also take place in May 2027 and December 2028, according to RMG.
What are the two types of blue moon?
There are two ways for a blue moon to occur.
One is to have two full moons in a calendar month, like we will experience in May. That’s a calendrical blue moon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The other way is when four full moons land during an astronomical season (there are typically three). That’s considered a seasonal blue moon, and the third full moon in the lineup is the blue moon, according to the almanac.
What phase of the lunar cycle is the moon in now?
As of April 20, the moon is 3 days old with 13% illumination, and is in the waxing crescent phase of the lunar cycle, according to Space.com.
The moon’s phases in April and May are:
When is June’s full moon?
June’s full moon lands at the end the month, and is called the strawberry moon.
The strawberry moon is on June 29 and will reach its peak at 7:57 p.m. EST, according to space.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Two full moons will light up May skies. Here’s when to see them
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
