A rare blue micromoon will be visible this weekend, offering skywatchers a distinctive full moon that will not appear again until December 2028.
What happened
This weekend’s full moon is classified as a blue micromoon, combining two uncommon lunar phenomena. A blue moon refers to the second full moon occurring within a calendar month, which takes place this May following a full moon on May 1. Meanwhile, the micromoon aspect means that this full moon is at its farthest point from Earth this year, making it appear smaller and dimmer than usual. At a distance of approximately 252,360 miles, it will look about 6% smaller and 10% less bright than an average full moon.
Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will see the blue micromoon near Antares, the bright red supergiant star in the constellation Scorpius. For viewers in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, eastern Australia, parts of Antarctica, and nearby islands, the moon will temporarily pass in front of Antares, briefly obscuring the star. Antares, located about 550 light-years from Earth, is often called the “heart of the scorpion.”
The differences caused by the moon’s greater distance are subtle and may go unnoticed by casual observers. Those interested can view the event online through live streams provided by projects such as the Virtual Telescope Project.
Why it matters
The blue micromoon is the smallest and most distant full moon of 2026, presenting a rare observational opportunity. Its appearance highlights the elliptical nature of the moon’s orbit, which affects lunar size and brightness. The moon’s alignment with Antares offers an unusual astronomical event especially visible from the Southern Hemisphere, providing a striking example of celestial mechanics in action. The next such blue moon will not occur until December 31, 2028, underscoring the event’s rarity.
Background
A blue moon—defined as the second full moon in a single month—occurs roughly every two to three years. The previous blue moon took place in 2023. A micromoon occurs when the moon’s orbit places it at its most distant point from Earth, in contrast to a supermoon, where the moon is closest and appears larger and brighter. The last supermoon was observed at a distance of 225,130 miles, significantly closer than this weekend’s micromoon. These orbital variations are caused by the moon’s elliptical path around Earth.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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