How to Get the Best View of This Weekend’s Rare Blue Micromoon

(SeaPRwire) –   A rare celestial occurrence—a blue micromoon—will be visible to observers worldwide this weekend, an event not anticipated to recur for over 25 years.

During this phenomenon, the moon will appear at its smallest and most distant from Earth compared to any other full moon throughout the year.

Here is what you should know about the micromoon and how to get the best view.

What is a blue micromoon?

A blue moon is defined as the second full moon to occur within a single calendar month. This is a relatively rare event, taking place roughly every two to three years. According to EarthSky, the previous blue moon occurred on August 31, 2023, and the next is scheduled for December 31, 2028.

The term “blue moon” does not describe the moon’s actual color; it simply denotes the rarity of the event. While it was mistakenly applied to the second full moon of a month in a 1946 issue of Sky and Telescope magazine, the term originally referred to the third of four full moons within a single season.

A micromoon, conversely, occurs when a full or new moon reaches apogee, the point in its orbit farthest from Earth.

Saturday night’s blue micromoon combines these two events: it is the second full moon of May and coincides with the moon reaching apogee. Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project noted to The Associated Press that this will make the moon appear approximately 6% smaller and 10% dimmer than a typical full moon.

At roughly 252,360 miles (406,134 km) from Earth, this will be the smallest-appearing moon of the year. The average distance between the Earth and the moon is approximately 238,900 miles (384,472 km).

The counterpart to a micromoon is a supermoon, which happens when a full moon reaches perigee, its closest point to Earth. During the most recent supermoons, the distance was approximately 225,130 miles (362,311 km).

The moon’s distance from Earth fluctuates due to its elliptical orbit, which causes subtle, often imperceptible changes in its apparent size.

Because the difference in size at perigee is marginal, the perception of a “large” moon is often an illusion caused by its position relative to the horizon. When viewed against landmarks like mountains, trees, or buildings, the moon can seem larger than it does when compared to smaller objects in the field of view.

The month’s first full moon, known as the flower moon due to the season, occurred on May 1.

When can you see it?

The blue micromoon will be observable from the night of Saturday, May 30, through Sunday, May 31.

It will reach its peak at 4:45 a.m. EDT on Sunday.

How can you see it best?

As with many astronomical events, the blue micromoon is best viewed under clear skies, away from light pollution, and with an unobstructed horizon. However, the naked eye may not easily detect the slight variations in the moon’s size and brightness.

The Virtual Telescope Project will also provide a live stream of the event.

For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, the moon will appear near Antares, a bright star located in the heart of the Scorpius constellation.

In regions south of the equator and across the Pacific, some viewers may see the moon pass in front of the constellation, temporarily obscuring Antares.