The second full moon of May will rise on May 31 at 4:45 a.m. Eastern Time, making it a Blue Moon and the first calendar Blue Moon since Aug. 30, 2023. It also marks the culmination of the current lunar cycle.
The Moon will be near apogee, the point farthest from Earth, so it should look smaller than usual even as it returns as a rare Blue Moon. This month’s first full moon came on May 1, and the next time two full moons will share a month is December 2028.
For skywatchers, the timing adds a second payoff. Early risers may catch Mars and Saturn in the eastern sky before sunrise, while Venus and Jupiter may be visible after sunset as they inch closer together. Experts recommend setting an alarm 45 to 60 minutes before sunrise and looking east for the best chance at the pre-dawn planets, then checking again 30 to 45 minutes after sunset for the evening pair.
Blue Moon has two common meanings. In the calendrical sense used here, it is the second full moon in a single month. A seasonal Blue Moon is the third full moon in a season that has four full moons. Because lunar phases last about 29 1/2 days and most months have 30 or 31 days, the event is relatively rare, happening about once every 30 months on average.
Astrologer Sarah Potter said the Blue Moon carries the feeling of completion and release, and that this one offers a window for manifestation because it is the second full moon in May. She said it is a good moment to set long-term goals or to let go of something that needs a major push to be released and grieved so life can move into its next phase. In her view, the lunation invites a leap of faith toward the life people truly want.
That rarity is what gives this full moon its pull. The last calendar Blue Moon came on Aug. 30, 2023, and the next one is not due until Dec. 31, 2028. The moon will not actually appear blue, but the name still fits the unusual timing: two full moons in one month, with the second arriving before dawn on May 31.
