Rare ‘blue moon’ is coming to North Carolina skies. Here’s when
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- May’s blue moon will peak Sunday, May 31 at 4:45 a.m.
- The May blue moon is the month’s second full moon and will not appear blue.
- The moon will be a micro moon about 252,360 miles from Earth, appearing smaller.
North Carolina sky gazers will get a chance to see the only blue moon of the year later this month, though catching it will require an early wake-up call. The lunar event will also be a “micro moon,” making it the smallest full moon of 2026.
FULL STORY: Look up, North Carolina. A rare ‘blue moon’ event is coming soon. Here’s when
Here are key takeaways:
- May’s blue moon will rise Sunday, May 31, and peak at 4:45 a.m., according to the Farmers’ Almanac. It’s the second full moon of the month, following the Flower Moon on May 1.
- Despite the name, the moon won’t actually appear blue. The term refers to the second full moon in a calendar month, an event that typically happens every two to three years.
- The moon will also be a micro moon, occurring about 252,360 miles from Earth — roughly 13,400 miles farther than average, according to EarthSky.com. That makes it appear smaller and dimmer than usual.
- Stargazers can spot Venus and Jupiter in the western sky about an hour after sunset, with Mars and Saturn visible to the east about an hour before sunrise, per Accuweather.com.
- The next blue moon won’t appear until December 2028.
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.
This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Rare ‘blue moon’ is coming to North Carolina skies. Here’s when."