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Flower Moon, meteors and more: Astronomical events happening in May 2026
You may have heard the expression ‘once in a blue moon,’ but what about once in a micro blue moon?
It’s time again to check the skies for some astronomical events.Related video above: Crescent moon sets behind Statue of Liberty in New YorkMay of this year is jam-packed with moons and meteors to catch with the naked eye. This month features an extra moon in the cycle, often called a blue moon. You should also be able to see meteors for some time, with the peak near the beginning of the month. And you’ll even have a chance to catch some earthshine bouncing off the lunar surface. Read below for the full list of astronomical events in May.May 1 — Flower MoonThe first full moon of May arrives early and is generally known as the Flower Moon. As the last moon of spring, it marks the final stretch of time before summer. It’s known as the Flower Moon in the Americas after the Comanche name for the moon, and due to the bloom of flowers in the Northern Hemisphere in May. Many Native American nicknames for the Flower Moon mention the corresponding times to plant or harvest a particular crop. Other nicknames include the Budding Moon (Ojibwe), the Moon of Waiting (Hopi), and the Moon of the Shedding Ponies (Sioux).The full moon will start at 1:23 p.m. EST on Friday, May 1. It should be visible throughout the night, including after sunset at 8:15 p.m. EST until moonset at 5:51 a.m. EST.May 5-6 — Eta Aquarid meteor showerThis spring meteor shower is usually active between April 19 and May 28, but peaks on the night of May 5. It’s named for its radiant, or the point in the sky from which the meteors fall, the constellation Aquarius, and more specifically, the star Eta Aquarii. The Eta Aquarid meteors are made up of the debris and dust of Halley’s comet.No telescopes or special equipment are needed to see the Eta Aquarids. Just find a spot away from light pollution and allow some time for your eyes to adjust to the night sky. The easiest time for spotting will be after moonset and before sunrise, around 3-5 a.m. About 50 meteors can be seen per hour at peak, according to NASA.May 12-13 — Earthshine morningsOn the mornings of these two days, you should be able to see a phenomenon known as earthshine, which is sunlight that has bounced off the Earth’s oceans and back onto the moon, illuminating the moon’s darker surface. It is sometimes called the “Da Vinci Glow” on account of its discovery by Italian inventor and painter Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century.May 16 — Super new moonThe May new moon is considered a supermoon because its elliptical orbit around Earth is at its perigee, or closest point in the orbit to our planet. When the moon is in supermoon mode, or perigee, it can appear as much as 14% larger and 30% brighter in the night sky, according to NASA. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to see the supermoon because of the new moon phase. However, no big, bright moon visible in the sky makes for ideal stargazing conditions.May 19-20 — Earthshine eveningsThe same phenomenon from mid-May, except this time it will be visible for two nights, instead of during the day. It’s also sometimes called “ashen glow.”The recent Artemis II moonshot mission captured a rare earthshine while in orbit in their capsule, Integrity.May 31 — Micro blue moonYou may have heard the expression “once in a blue moon,” but what about once in a micro blue moon? A blue moon is any second full moon that falls within a month or any third full moon of a season, due to the nature of our calendars. Most months have one full moon, so a second full moon is rare — and was traditionally considered an unlucky 13th moon. A micromoon is the opposite of a supermoon, meaning the moon is at its apogee, or furthest point from the Earth in its elliptical orbit. This makes a micro blue moon quite rare, only occurring once every few years.
It’s time again to check the skies for some astronomical events.
Related video above: Crescent moon sets behind Statue of Liberty in New York
Advertisement
May of this year is jam-packed with moons and meteors to catch with the naked eye. This month features an extra moon in the cycle, often called a blue moon. You should also be able to see meteors for some time, with the peak near the beginning of the month. And you’ll even have a chance to catch some earthshine bouncing off the lunar surface. Read below for the full list of astronomical events in May.
May 1 — Flower Moon
The first full moon of May arrives early and is generally known as the Flower Moon. As the last moon of spring, it marks the final stretch of time before summer. It’s known as the Flower Moon in the Americas after the Comanche name for the moon, and due to the bloom of flowers in the Northern Hemisphere in May. Many Native American nicknames for the Flower Moon mention the corresponding times to plant or harvest a particular crop. Other nicknames include the Budding Moon (Ojibwe), the Moon of Waiting (Hopi), and the Moon of the Shedding Ponies (Sioux).
The full moon will start at 1:23 p.m. EST on Friday, May 1. It should be visible throughout the night, including after sunset at 8:15 p.m. EST until moonset at 5:51 a.m. EST.
May 5-6 — Eta Aquarid meteor shower
This spring meteor shower is usually active between April 19 and May 28, but peaks on the night of May 5. It’s named for its radiant, or the point in the sky from which the meteors fall, the constellation Aquarius, and more specifically, the star Eta Aquarii. The Eta Aquarid meteors are made up of the debris and dust of Halley’s comet.
No telescopes or special equipment are needed to see the Eta Aquarids. Just find a spot away from light pollution and allow some time for your eyes to adjust to the night sky. The easiest time for spotting will be after moonset and before sunrise, around 3-5 a.m. About 50 meteors can be seen per hour at peak, according to NASA.
May 12-13 — Earthshine mornings
On the mornings of these two days, you should be able to see a phenomenon known as earthshine, which is sunlight that has bounced off the Earth’s oceans and back onto the moon, illuminating the moon’s darker surface. It is sometimes called the “Da Vinci Glow” on account of its discovery by Italian inventor and painter Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century.
May 16 — Super new moon
The May new moon is considered a supermoon because its elliptical orbit around Earth is at its perigee, or closest point in the orbit to our planet. When the moon is in supermoon mode, or perigee, it can appear as much as 14% larger and 30% brighter in the night sky, according to NASA. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to see the supermoon because of the new moon phase. However, no big, bright moon visible in the sky makes for ideal stargazing conditions.
May 19-20 — Earthshine evenings
The same phenomenon from mid-May, except this time it will be visible for two nights, instead of during the day. It’s also sometimes called “ashen glow.”
The recent Artemis II moonshot mission captured a rare earthshine while in orbit in their capsule, Integrity.
May 31 — Micro blue moon
You may have heard the expression “once in a blue moon,” but what about once in a micro blue moon? A blue moon is any second full moon that falls within a month or any third full moon of a season, due to the nature of our calendars. Most months have one full moon, so a second full moon is rare — and was traditionally considered an unlucky 13th moon. A micromoon is the opposite of a supermoon, meaning the moon is at its apogee, or furthest point from the Earth in its elliptical orbit. This makes a micro blue moon quite rare, only occurring once every few years.
