A rare blue moon will grace the night sky this weekend, an event not expected to repeat until 2028, according to AccuWeather. The moon will rise on Saturday night and remain visible through Sunday morning, peaking at 4:45 a.m. EDT. Skywatchers across the UK may also catch a glimpse of Mars, Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter under clear skies.
Despite its name, a blue moon does not actually appear blue. The term refers to the second full moon in a calendar month or the third of four full moons in a season, as defined by NASA. This weekend's blue moon follows the flower moon of May 1 and is the final such event until December 2028, according to Time and Date. The last blue moon occurred in August 2023, which was also a supermoon.
This blue moon is also a micromoon, meaning it occurs when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth, making it appear slightly smaller than usual. For optimal viewing, experts recommend staying away from light pollution and using a telescope or camera for a closer look. Venus and Jupiter will be visible in the western sky about an hour after sunset, while early risers can spot Mars and Saturn in the eastern sky 45–60 minutes before sunrise.
While blue moons are rare, they can sometimes appear blue due to particles in the air from smoke or dust scattering red wavelengths of light. The next seasonal blue moon will occur on May 20, 2027, followed by a monthly blue moon in December 2028.
