When To See A Rare ‘Blue Moon’ Rise At Dusk This Weekend

BreakingInnovationScienceWhen To See A Rare ‘Blue Moon’ Rise At Dusk This WeekendByJamie Carter,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky.Follow AuthorMay 29, 2026, 02:00am EDTToplineThis weekend ends May with a rare occurrence — a second full moon in a single calendar month, a calendrical phenomenon commonly known as a Blue Moon. While the term has nothing to do with color, it will have many people looking for the full moon who usually ignore it, and many of them will miss it. There are two reasons for that. Non-experts are saying that the Blue Moon is on Sunday, May 31, but as any moon gazer knows, by far the best moment to see a full moon is not when it’s high overhead, but when it appears low on the horizon just after sunset. That happens during dusk on Saturday, May 30. Here’s everything you need to know about this weekend’s Blue Moon. May's Flower Moon shines through the trees in Tennessee.gettyTimelineFriday, May 29The 98%-lit nearly full moon is already high in the eastern sky by sunset, appearing large and bright. As it rises, look below it for Antares, the brightest star in the summer constellation Scorpius. Saturday, May 30It’s the best evening to watch moonrise for the full Blue Moon effect. Find an unobstructed southeastern horizon at the time of moonrise where you are, and you’ll see a large, orange full moon appear. You’ll soon see Antares just below it. Much closer than on Friday. Why tonight? The moon rises as the sun sets, which creates a dramatic effect.Sunday, May 31During the night, at 4:45 a.m. EDT, the Blue Moon will become official as the lunar surface becomes 100% lit by the sun. However, tonight it will rise around an hour after the sun has set, as seen from North America. if (!window.cnxel) { window.cnxel = {}; window.cnxel.cmd = []; var iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.style.display = 'none'; iframe.onl...