May is just around the corner, and there are so many fun things to see and do! Now that we’re fully in the swing of spring, the weather’s getting hot again, and we’re well into festival season!
And of course, for all the moon lovers out there, we’re in for another full moon this month. But why stop the fun at one full moon, when we can have a second, micomoon! Keep scrolling for all the details.
When are the May full moons?
May will have two full moons, one at the very beginning of the month, and one at the end.
The Flower Moon, May’s typical full moon, will actually occur on the first day of May. You can see it in the sky on May 1st, 2026, with a peak in the afternoon, at 1:23 pm.
Then, at the end of the month, you’ll see the May Blue Micromoon on Sunday, May 31st, 2026, with an expected peak at 4:45am.
What is a flower moon?
The Flower Moon is the name for the first full moon of May because many types of flowers bloom during this month.
Of course, there are many other names for it as well. According to Time and Date,
Native Americans called it Budding Moon, Egg Laying Moon, and Planting Moon… The Anglo-Saxon name for May’s brightest Moon phase is Milk Moon from the Old English Rimilcemona. It means three-milkings-month in modern English because cows were milked three times a day during this time of year. The Celtic and Old English names are Mothers’ Moon, Bright Moon, Hare Moon, and Grass Moon.
What is a blue micormoon?
A blue moon is a common phrase that people use when there is a second full moon in a month. This is a relatively rare occurrence, hence why people say something happens “once in a blue moon” if it’s uncommon. But the moon itself will not actually have a blue color.
So… why is it a micromoon? Good question. It’s the opposite of a super moon.
According to the Farmer’s Almanac,
The Full Moon on May 31, 2026, occurs just before reaching apogee on June 1… Apogee refers to the point when the Moon is farthest from Earth. When the Full Moon occurs near this point, it’s classified as a ‘micromoon’ … so it will appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual.
