How to Best See This Weekend’s Rare Blue Micromoon
This weekend, a rare blue micromoon will be visible worldwide, an event that won't occur again for over 25 years. The moon will appear smaller and dimmer than usual, being at its farthest point from Earth. It is best viewed with clear skies and minimal light interference.
- ▪The blue micromoon is the second full moon of May and will reach apogee, making it appear 10% dimmer and 6% smaller than an average full moon.
- ▪The moon will be approximately 252,360 miles away from Earth during this event.
- ▪The peak viewing time for the blue micromoon will be at 4:45 a.m. EDT on Sunday, May 31.
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People all over the world will be able to see a blue micromoon in the night sky this weekend––a rare celestial event that isn’t expected to happen again for more than 25 years. During the event, the moon will be the smallest-appearing and farthest away from Earth of any full moon this year. Here’s what to know about the micromoon, and how to see it best.What is a blue micromoon?A blue moon refers to the second full moon in a single month, which is a fairly uncommon occurrence in and of itself, happening only roughly every two to three years. The last blue moon was on August 31, 2023, and the next one will come on December 31, 2028, according to EarthSky. A blue moon is not actually blue in color; the name simply refers to the rarity of the phenomenon.
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