A rare Blue Moon will light up the skies over North America later this month, giving stargazers everywhere another reason to look up and marvel at the skies after sunset.
A Blue Moon is set to occur on May 31. This will be the second full moon in May 2026.
The Blue Moon on May 31 will be a micromoon, a distant full moon, also the most distant full moon of this year, according to EarthSky.
The moon on May 30 to 31 will be around 406,134 kilometers (252,360 miles) away from the Earth. In contrast, the average distance of the moon from the Earth is nearly 384,472 kilometers (238,900 miles), according to EarthSky.
Since the moon will be further away from our planet, it will also be roughly 7% dimmer than the average full moon, and almost 25% to 30% dimmer than a supermoon, which is an especially close full moon.
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What is a Blue Moon?
Despite its name, the moon that will rise above the horizon on May 30-31 won’t really be blue. In fact, the only time a moon truly appears blue is after major volcanic eruptions or wildfires that cause particles to scatter red light in the atmosphere.
The term ‘Blue Moon’ refers to the timing of the lunar cycle and not its color.
A Blue Moon is the second full moon in the same calendar month.
Although the term ‘once in a blue moon’ is a common way to signify a rare occurrence, a Blue Moon, in fact, is not very rare.
A Blue Moon usually happens once every 2.5 years, according to NASA.
A full lunar cycle lasts for about 29.5 days, which often results in two full moons happening in the same month.
Prior to May 2026, a Blue Moon occurred on October 31, 2023 (which was also a Super Blue Moon, the last of its kind until 2037).
The next Blue Moon will take place on December 31, 2028, according to EarthSky.
Where to View the Blue Moon in Santa Barbara?
The Blue Moon will be visible across California. In Santa Barbara, it is expected to peak at 1:45 a.m. PT, but will begin to appear full from the evening of May 30 through June 1.
Skywatchers along the Central Coast of California may have some vantage points for viewing the Blue Moon on May 31, particularly in areas with limited city lights and unobstructed coastal views.
Some of the popular spots to watch the moon include Stearns Wharf, where the coastal horizon offers a stunning backdrop to the illuminated moon.
Skywatchers can also head to Shoreline Park, a popular sunset and moonrise destination.
Residents may also head to Lake Cachuma or Refugio State Beach to get further away from downtown light pollution.
One older definition of a Blue Moon specified a much rarer event. It was the third Full Moon in a season that had four Full Moons.