Is there a full moon tonight? When May full moon peaks over Pittsburgh

Full moon enthusiasts, get ready – May's full moon will appear today . But guess what? May will have twofull moons, one to start the month, and the second to end it.

May's first full moon will gleam in the sky tonight. Here's what to know about the timing, and if the weather will allow for moon-gazing activities.

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When are the May full moons?

May has two full moons, and the first one will rises today.

The first, called the flower moon, rises on May 1, peaking at 1:23 p.m. ET.

The second, called a blue moon, rises on May 31 at 4:45 a.m. ET, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac .

What is Pittsburgh's weather forecast for the May 1 full moon?

Will Western Pennsylvania's weather make for good viewing during the first May full moon? It may be a rainy night with potential cloud cover, which may obscure full moon viewing.

Here's the weather forecast for Friday night from the National Weather Service (as of April 30):

Pittsburgh: Showers are likely before 2 p.m. on Friday, then showers and possibly a thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Chance of precipitation is 80%. High near 56. Friday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 38 and a 30% chance of precipitation is 30%.

The second May full moon, a blue moon, will also be a micromoon

You may have heard of a supermoon — we witnessed three supermoons last year. But have you heard of a micromoon?

The flower moon, appearing on May 1, will be at its regular full-moon size. But the blue moon at the end of the month will appear smaller than usual.

A micromoon is the opposite of a supermoon. May's second full moon will occur just before apogee, the point at which the moon is farthest from Earth, according to Old Farmer's Almanac . When the full moon appears, the moon will look smaller and dimmer than usual.

How often does a blue moon occur?

Blue moons are not all that uncommon, occurring every 2–3 years, according to Royal Museums Greenwich . May 2027 and December 2028 will also bring blue moons, according to RMG.

What phase of the lunar cycle is the moon in now?

As of April 30, the moon is 13 days old in the waxing gibbous phase with 98% illumination according to Space.com .

The moon's phases in May are:

• 🌕 Full moon:May 1

• 🌗 Last quarter:May 9

• 🌑 New moon:May 16

• 🌓 First quarter:May 23

• 🌕 Full moon:May 31

How did the flower moon get its name?

You might assume the May full moon is called the flower moon because it's spring, and you're right — many flowers are blooming.

The nickname flower moonhas also been attributed to Algonquin peoples, a Native American tribe, according to Old Farmer's Almanac .

The second May full moon, the blue moon, isn't named after the color of the moon. The truth is, it wasn't named after anything, but became a trend after a mistake was printed in a 1946 issue of Sky & Telescope Magazine, according to Old Farmer's Almanac .

What are the two types of blue moon?

There are two ways to achieve a blue moon.

One is to have two full moons in a calendar month, like we will have in May 2026. That is a called a calendrical blue moon, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac .

The other way is when their are four full moons in an astronomical season (there are typically three). That is known as a seasonal blue moon, and the third full moon in that situation is the blue moon, according to the almanac.

Pennsylvania dark sky locations for astronomy, full moon viewing

Of the  159 locations in the United States  that are designated dark sky communities (those having little to no light pollution to interfere with astronomy), one is in Pennsylvania:

• Cherry Springs State Park : Located in the north central part of the state, this park was selected as  a dark sky spot  in 2008. The park sits more than 2,000 feet above sea level, offers 360-degree views, is open year-round and offers 60 to 85 nights with ideal conditions for observing.

Additionally, another dark sky spot sits about two hours west of Pittsburgh south of Canton, Ohio:

• Fry Family Park : Located in Magnolia, about 10 miles south of Canton, the park also earned the distinction of being  an IDSP-certified urban dark sky area , which means stargazers still get a good view of the night sky despite its proximity to a city.

Other dark sky destinations within easy driving distance of Pittsburgh, according to  Visit PA , include:

• Laurel Hill State Park : The secluded Huffman Lodge offers modern amenities and stunning nighttime views.

• Ohiopyle State Park : Located at the southern end of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, the state park also offers rafting, biking, hiking and fishing in addition to dark skies perfect for stargazing.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is the May full moon tonight? Timing, Pittsburgh weather forecast