Topline
Although the Blue Moon officially becomes full in the early hours of Sunday, May 31, the key moment is moonrise just after sunset on Saturday, May 30, when it slowly lifts into the eastern sky. That’s when it looks its most dramatic — larger than usual and tinted orange. This is the second full moon in a single calendar month, a simple quirk of timing rather than color, but it creates one of the most visually rewarding naked eye sights in the night sky.
Key Facts
The Blue Moon will be officially full at 4:45 a.m. EDT on Sunday, May 31, but the best viewing will be at moonrise on Saturday, May 30.
Check the moonrise time for your exact location on Saturday, May 3. In New York, moonrise is at 8:14 p.m. EDT (five minutes before sunset) and in Los Angeles it’s at 7:55 p.m. PDT (three minutes before sunset) — right at the beginning of “blue hour,” when a full moon rising into fading daylight provides dramatic contrast.
Look east shortly after sunset to catch the moon climbing into the sky. As it rises, you may see Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius, below.
What Is A ‘blue Moon?’
It’s called a Blue Moon because it’s the second full moon in the same calendar month, the first being the full Flower Moon on May 1. The moon takes 29.5 days to orbit Earth and return to the same position in the night sky, causing two full moons in the same month roughly every 2.5 years. The next monthly Blue Moon, like this one, will take place on Dec. 31, 2028.
Why The ‘blue Moon’ Looks Golden
A Blue Moon has nothing to do with color. When a full moon rises, it typically glows orange or deep amber. That’s because its light must travel through a thicker layer of atmosphere near the horizon. Earth’s atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths more efficiently, allowing warmer red and orange tones to dominate — the same effect that produces vivid sunsets.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
