Photo via Fast Company
Stargazers across the Charlotte area will have a brief window to observe a rare celestial occurrence early Sunday morning: a blue moon that also qualifies as a micromoon. The phenomenon happens when two full moons appear within the same calendar month—an event that occurs roughly once every 30 months. May 2026 is one such year, with the first full moon appearing May 1 and the second reaching peak illumination at 4:45 a.m. ET on May 31.
Despite the name, a blue moon has nothing to do with the color of the moon itself. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, there are two ways to define the phenomenon: the calendar method (two full moons in one month) and the seasonal method (when a fourth full moon appears in an astronomical season, making the third moon technically 'blue'). For those missing this rare event, the next calendar blue moon won't occur until December 2028, and a seasonal blue moon won't appear until May 2027.
Adding another layer of rarity, this blue moon also qualifies as a micromoon—a term referring to when the moon reaches apogee, its farthest point from Earth in its elliptical orbit. According to National Geographic, the size difference is subtle; the micromoon will appear only 10 to 15 percent smaller in diameter and slightly dimmer than a typical full moon, making the distinction nearly imperceptible to the naked eye.
While blue moons in the same year are exceptionally rare, it has happened before and will happen again. The Old Farmer's Almanac notes that in 2018, both January and March experienced blue moons, while February had no full moons at all. This dual occurrence won't repeat until 2037, making Sunday's early morning viewing opportunity a genuinely uncommon celestial event for Charlotte-area observers.
