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U.S. Gets Blue Moon Micromoon, Antares Near-Occultation

5/27/2026

41 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

U.S. Observes Blue Moon

The United States will see a Blue Moon on Sunday, May 31 2026, which is also a micromoon at apogee.
The full-moon peak occurs at 08:45 UTC (3:45 a.m. CDT) on that date.
At apogee the Moon is about 406,366 km from Earth, making it up to 14 % smaller than a supermoon.
The Moon will pass near Antares in Scorpius, offering southern-U.S. viewers a possible occultation.

Summary

Astronomers Advise

Astronomers advise viewing the Blue Moon late on May 30 and early May 31 when Antares is highest.
Binoculars or a small telescope reveal lunar details such as the Montes Jura peaks along the terminator.
Photographers should use a tripod and manual exposure to capture the bright Moon against Antares’s reddish glow.
The south lunar pole, visible near the terminator, is a candidate landing site for NASA’s Artemis 4 mission in 2028.

History

Historical Context

After President Kennedy’s 1961 pledge spurred the Apollo program, NASA landed Apollo 11 on July 20 1969, a feat achieved by over 500,000 engineers and watched by an estimated 500 million people. The Cold-War race and Saturn V success set the template for lunar outreach, now echoed by the May 31 2026 Blue Moon event and NASA’s Artemis 4 launch planned for 2028.

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U.S. Observes Blue Moon

The United States will see a Blue Moon on Sunday, May 31 2026, which is also a micromoon at apogee.
The full-moon peak occurs at 08:45 UTC (3:45 a.m. CDT) on that date.
At apogee the Moon is about 406,366 km from Earth, making it up to 14 % smaller than a supermoon.
The Moon will pass near Antares in Scorpius, offering southern-U.S. viewers a possible occultation.

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