New Lunar Phase
The New Moon occurred on May 16, 2026, at 20:01 UTC (3:01 PM CT). The New Moon begins the Lunar cycle of the 2026 Blue Moon that occurs on May 31, 2026, at 08:45 GMT. It is called a Blue Moon because it is the second Full Moon in one calendar month.
The 2026 Blue Moon is also the year’s smallest Micromoon. A Micromoon occurs when a Full or New Moon happens near apogee, the point where the Moon is farthest from Earth in its orbit. From this greater distance, the Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer than usual.
The last blue moon occurred on August 19, 2024, as both a Monthly Blue Moon and a Seasonal Blue Moon as the 4th Full Moon in the same Season. The next Blue Moon is also a Monthly and Seasonal Blue Moon, occurring on May 20, 2027.
