According to the 2026 astronomical calendar, which keeps delivering good news and surprises, including the long-awaited total solar eclipse that will take place on August 12 and will be visible over the Iberian Peninsula like nowhere else in the world, this May will host two full moons. The first of them, the Flower Moon, occurred last Friday, May 1 at 19:23, but the second, the Blue Moon, will appear on May 31 at 10:46.
The Flower Moon is one of the most anticipated events of the year because it coincides with favorable weather and allows it to be enjoyed without the chill, although this year in some parts of Spain, due to weather conditions, it has not been possible to admire it in its full splendor. Will there be better luck with the Blue Moon? The full moon of May 31, which will also be a micromoon, can be seen across Spain, though with high temperatures, as confirmed by Aemet.
Therefore, we will be able to see the Blue Moon this year in the sky, though not literally blue, of course. It is known by that name because traditionally the second full moon that occurs within the same month is called a blue moon.
On the other hand, as the National Observatory confirms, there will be more celestial events that day. “Before bidding farewell to the month, on May 31, and a few minutes before sunset, we will be able to enjoy Mercury, Venus and Jupiter on the western horizon, with the three planets crossing the constellation Gemini.”
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Why will there be two full moons this May?
As we’ve explained, May will host two full moons—the second and third of spring—an exceptional occurrence because this year we will have 13 full moons instead of the usual 12. Why does this happen? This second full moon is known as the blue moon. Since the lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days, in months with 31 days, if the moon lands on day 1 another full moon will occur on day 30 or 31.
Why is the May full moon called the Flower Moon?
For centuries, the Moon has fascinated scientists and inspired artists alike, but it has been the ancient cultures of our planet that, in a deep and meaningful way, have tended to venerate this dark, lightless celestial body through all its phases. The May full moon is, without a doubt, one of the astronomical events that has sparked (and continues to spark) the greatest interest among those peoples who rely on its presence in the firmament to mark the agricultural calendar or to predict weather changes just before the arrival of summer.
