In May 2026, sky watchers in the UK will witness a remarkable spectacle: two full moons, including a Blue Moon, will grace the night sky within the same month. The first full moon, known as the Flower Moon, will rise on May 1 at 20:46 local time in London, while the second will appear on May 31 at 4:45 a.m. ET.
The Flower Moon is named for the vibrant spring flowers that bloom in May. This year, both full moons are classified as micromoons, meaning they will appear smaller and less bright than usual due to their distance from Earth. A typical full moon occurs approximately every 29.5 days, but this month will offer an extraordinary double feature.
Key lunar facts:
- The Flower Moon reaches its peak brightness at 1:23 p.m. ET.
- The Blue Moon is set to shine brightly just before dawn on May 31.
- A lunar halo—a ring around the moon—can form due to ice crystals in the atmosphere.
For those keen on astrophotography, this is an excellent opportunity. The low-hanging moon may appear orange or red when it rises due to atmospheric scattering—a phenomenon known as the moon illusion. The Flower Moon will be visible past midnight into the early hours of Saturday morning.
Yet, uncertainties linger about how weather conditions might affect visibility. Cloud cover could obscure this celestial display for many enthusiasts across the UK. Nevertheless, this unique occurrence promises to captivate stargazers and photographers alike.