Why is a blue moon called a blue moon? All you need to know before the upcoming rare celestial event

How to watch the rare blue Micromoon: Date, timing and best viewing locations

A Blue Micromoon reaches peak illumination at 8:45 UTC on May 31, 2026, positioned 252,360 miles from Earth — appearing roughly 6% smaller and 10% dimmer than an average full moon as it combines a calendar Blue Moon with an apogee-phase lunar cycle. The event is part of a rare back-to-back sequence: the June 2026 Strawberry Moon may also qualify as a Micromoon, while best viewing requires an unobstructed eastern horizon with minimal light pollution shortly after moonrise.