Illinois will see blue micromoon in May. When is peak illumination?

Next month will begin and end with full moons, giving Illinois residents the chance to view not only a Flower Moon, but also a rare blue moon.

And as it turns out, both full moons will be "micromoons,"  writes EarthSky . Here's what Illinois residents should know about catching this month's lunar events, including the blue micromoon.

What is a micromoon?

The moon doesn't orbit our planet in a perfect circle, say experts. Sometimes it's closer, like when we witness a "supermoon." Other times, it's farther away, and when the full moon reaches its farthest point — at apogee — we get what's called a micromoon, minimoon or apogee moon,  writes Time and Date . These micromoons happen roughly 2-3 times a year.

How far will May 2026's 'micromoon' be from Earth?

The full moon at the end of May will be 2026's most distant full moon of the year,  writes EarthSky , at a distance of 252,360 miles. Normally, says NASA, it's about  238,855 miles  away from Earth.

May 2026 also heralds a blue moon, the only one happening this year.

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How rare are blue moons?

Each type of blue moon happens roughly every 2-3 years. The last seasonal blue moon was in August 2024. The next one will occur in May 2027,  according to EarthSky .

After May 2026, the next monthly blue moon won't be seen again until December 2028.

Will the moon actually turn blue?

It would be neat if the moon turned a deep shade of blue, but that's unlikely to happen. Blue-colored moons in photos are usually made using special blue camera filters or photo editing apps.

Actual blue-colored moons  can  happen, however, but experts say they're exceptionally rare. They occur when enough dust or other particles — usually from wildfires or volcanic explosions — scatter red light from Earth's atmosphere.

May 2026 moon phases

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

Why is it called the Flower Moon?

"April showers bring May flowers," as the saying goes. The full moon in May is a reflection of flowers blooming across large swaths of North America,  according to the Old Farmer's Almanac .

May full moon also called Budding Moon, other names

Other names for May's full moon from Native American tribes include the Budding Moon, Frog Moon and the Moon of Shedding Ponies.

What time is the May 2026 full moon? When is peak illumination in Illinois?

Beginning with the blue moon, peak illumination Sunday, May 31, for Illinois happens at roughly 3:45 a.m. CT, writes  Time and Date .

On Friday, May 1, peak illumination for Illinois will occur in the afternoon at 12:23 p.m., and no, that's not a misprint.

Wait, why is peak illumination happening during daylight hours in Illinois?

Peak illumination is when the moon shines at its maximum brightness, triggered by the moon, when the Earth and sun becoming temporarily aligned. And when that happens, say experts, you might just be on the side of the planet that's covered in sunlight.

Astronomers, explains  Time and Date , calculate the moon's phases not by how the moon looks from a specific location but rather by the moon's position as its orbits the Earth.

When the moon, with the Earth in the middle and the sun on the opposite end, are all three aligned, that's technically the phase of a full moon, or peak illumination, regardless of where you happen to be standing to witness it.

Nevertheless, the moon appears full to the average stargazer past its peak illumination, say astronomers, shining brightly for days at 97-99%.

You can  check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code  by visiting the Old Farmer's Almanac online.

Will skies be clear in Illinois on May 1, 2026?

As of Tuesday, meteorologists with the National Weather Service  predict partly cloudy skies in the evening for May 1, along with a low of 37 and 40 degrees in central Illinois and Chicago, respectively. Midwest weather tends to be fickle, however, so it doesn't hurt to look up.

Need help finding planets, stars and constellations? Try these free astronomy apps

The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations.

• SkyView Lite for  iPhone  |  Google Play

• Star Walk 2 for  iPhone  |  Google Play

• Star Chart for  iPhone  |  Google Play

• NASA  for  iPhone  |  Google Play

When is the June 2026 full moon?

• 🍓  June 29: The Strawberry Moon

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: May 2026 full moons: Peak illumination in Illinois, weather forecast