Oregonians to see rare ‘blue moon’ and ‘micromoon’ early next week

Oregonians who may have missed this month’s full moon have a second chance as a rare “once‑in‑a‑blue‑moon” micromoon will rise on May 31.

The moon cycles through eight phases over roughly 29.5 days. While its brightness can be striking, each full moon also carries its own cultural and symbolic meaning, often linked to the time of year.

The second full moon will arrive on May 31, making it a blue moon, as it is the second full moon in the same calendar month. Such an event only occurs every couple of years.

It will also be a micromoon, which occurs when the full moon appears smaller and dimmer than usual because it is at the farthest point in its orbit from Earth, known as its apogee. Micromoons typically happen two to four times annually.

Here’s what to know about the May 2026 blue moon.

When are the second May 2026 full moon?

The blue moon will appear at the end of the month on May 31. It will reach peak illumination at 1:45 a.m. PDT, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Where does the blue moon get its nickname?

Full moon names have long been used to track the seasons, with many originating from Native American and early colonial traditions.

The term blue moon, despite its name, has nothing to do with the moon’s color. Its modern meaning became widely used after a 1946 article in Sky & Telescope magazine mistakenly defined it, a definition that later stuck, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac.

What are the two types of blue moon?

There are two ways a blue moon can occur.

One is when two full moons fall within a single calendar month, like they will this May. This is called a calendrical blue moon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

The other happens when there are four full moons in a single astronomical season instead of the usual three. In that case, the third full moon is considered a seasonal blue moon.

The May 2026 blue moon will also be a micromoon

The blue moon at the end of May will also be a micromoon.

A micromoon occurs when the full moon happens near apogee, the point where the moon is farthest from Earth. Because of that distance, the moon can appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual, the opposite of a supermoon.

How often can Oregonians see a blue moon?

Blue moons typically occur every two to three years. The next calendrical blue moons are expected in December 2028 and September 2031.

The next seasonal blue moon will be May 2027.

Where are the best places to see the blue moon?

Oregon is home to seven dark sky places including:

Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval is a lifelong Oregonian who covers trending news, entertainment, food and outdoors. She can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at@GinnieSandoval.