In the last weekend of May, residents of the Earth will be able to witness a rare astronomical phenomenon — a blue micromoon. The peak of the full moon will occur on May 31 at 11:45 Latvian time, but visually the Moon will appear full from the evening of May 30 until the evening of May 31.
The uniqueness of the event is related to two factors. First, it is the so-called blue Moon — the second full moon within a single calendar month. The first occurred on May 1, and the second falls on May 31.
Despite the name, the Earth's satellite will not change color. At the horizon, the Moon may appear golden or orange due to atmospheric conditions, while high in the sky it will remain its usual white shade.
Additionally, the May full moon will be a micromoon. At this moment, the Moon will be almost at the farthest point of its orbit — about 406 thousand kilometers from the Earth. Because of this, it will appear about 6% smaller and 10% dimmer than during a regular full moon.
Astronomers note that the combination of a blue Moon and a micromoon is extremely rare. The next time such an event can be seen will be on December 31, 2066.
Residents of some countries in the Southern Hemisphere will be particularly lucky. In Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, and several areas of Australia, it will be possible to observe the covering of the bright red star Antares: the Moon will pass in front of it for a few minutes.
No special equipment will be required to observe the full moon. Clear weather and a location away from bright city lights will be sufficient.
