The Blue Moon rises tonight: Where and when to see the second full moon of May

A rare "Blue Moon" takes to the eastern sky at sunset tonight! Here's what to expect from the second full moon of May 2026, as it rises close to the red star Antares in the constellation Scorpius. When to see the Blue Moon The Blue Moon reaches peak illumination at 4:45 a.m. EDT (0845 GMT) on May 31, as it sits opposite the sun in Earth's sky. Viewers in the U.S. will get their first glimpse of the full moon as it rises above the eastern horizon around sunset on May 30. You can check exact timings for your location using Time and Date's moonrise tracker . Look out for the red light of the supergiant star Antares glowing close to the lower left of the moon. At the same time, Jupiter , Venus and Mercury team up to form a line above the western horizon in the glow of the setting sun. What is a Blue Moon? Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 (Image credit: Celestron) For around $50 you can grab these beginner binoculars for better views of craters and seas on the lunar surface. 10x is enough for a closer look without worrying about excessive shakes during handheld observation. _ Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 review Exciting name aside, you shouldn't expect the Blue Moon to undergo any dramatic transformations in color this weekend — other than the mesmerizing orange-red hues seen around moonrise and moonset, as its light passes through the densest part of Earth's atmosphere . Instead, we use the term "Blue Moon" to describe the second full moon that rises in a single calendar month. …