Full moon alert: May's Flower 'micromoon' will look extra small tonight, with a rare Blue Moon following
May's Flower Moon, a micromoon occurring when the moon is near its farthest point from Earth, will appear slightly smaller and dimmer than average when it peaks on May 1, 2026. Despite its reduced size, the moon will still create a striking view as it rises shortly after sunset, enhanced by the moon illusion and Rayleigh scattering. A rare Blue Moon will follow on May 31, making May 2026 a month with two full moons, both occurring as micromoons.
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Space Astronomy The Moon Full moon alert: May's Flower 'micromoon' will look extra small tonight, with a rare Blue Moon following May's full moon rises on May Day — May 1 — shortly after sunset, creating a dramatic spectacle for skywatchers. By Jamie Carter published 1 May 2026 in News When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. The rising full Flower Moon will be visible from across the world. (Image credit: Andrew Merry via Getty Images) Copy link Facebook X Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter May's first full moon, known as the Flower Moon, will be 100% illuminated at 1:24 p.m. EDT Friday (May 1).
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