Rare blue moon to appear in the sky on May 31: Key timings and locations to see the full moon rise this weekend

You’ve seen the silver orb, you’ve witnessed the blood moon, and you’ve even been stunned by the orange hue in it. Now, get ready for one of the sky’s headline acts this weekend — a rare “Blue Moon” that is set to rise on May 31.Sure, the name might indicate that the moon will turn into a blue ball overnight, but don’t be fooled by the name — you won’t actually see a blue-colored moon. “Blue Moon” just means something special is happening with the lunar calendar, and it only comes around every few years. It’s a treat for both seasoned stargazers and anyone who likes to look up.This year’s Blue Moon is pulling double duty: it’s not only triggering a special occasion on the lunar calendar, but also is appearing as a “micromoon”. So the moon will be a bit farther from Earth than usual, which makes it look a tiny bit smaller and dimmer than a normal full moon. While the change probably won’t jump out at you, astronomers say having a Blue Moon and a micromoon at the same time is actually pretty rare.A blue moon appears when there are two full moons in a single month. We had a full moon on May 1, and we’re getting a second one now on May 31. Since the moon takes about 29 and a half days to cycle through its phases, this doesn’t happen all that often — just every couple of years. The last time this happened was in August 2023, and the next shot at it is December 2028.The whole idea behind the phrase “once in a blue moon” comes straight out of this phenomenon. It’s not the rarest thing in space, but it’s unusual enough to get people excited any time it shows up.If you want to catch the moon at its brightest, it’ll peak around 8:45 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on May 31. In India, that’s about 2:15 p.m. Indian Standard Time (IST). But honestly, you don’t need to be checking your watch. The real show is during moonrise, right after sunset, when the moon is close to the horizon. That’s when it looks biggest and most dramatic.In India, the Blue Moon will be visible on the evening of May 31, as long as the clouds cooperate. If you want the best view, try to find an open spot where nothing blocks your sightline to the eastern horizon; somewhere far from city lights is ideal for the moon-watching party. Think beaches, rooftops, fields, or hills — all of them work well.Moonrise times change a bit depending on where you are, but in major cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai, you should see it coming up just after sunset. For the exact timing, check local listings.In the UK, the moon is set to reach peak illumination at 09:45 British Summer Time (BST) on Sunday morning, when it will be below the horizon. For the best viewing experience, you should head outside during the evening twilight or throughout the night to see the moon fully illuminated.And as for photographers, the best time to snap the moon is during twilight, just as it’s rising. The sky still has some color, which helps balance out the moon’s brightness in your photos. Use a tripod and a zoom lens if you have them, but a modern smartphone can do pretty well, too.The moment the moon first lifts above the horizon always has a little magic. Because of how sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere at that angle, the moon can glow gold, orange, or even reddish. That optical trick, known as the “Moon Illusion”, makes the moon seem bigger and more colorful than when it’s high in the sky, even during a so-called Blue Moon.There’s even more going on overhead. The Blue Moon will drift close to the bright star Antares in Scorpius. And if you’re lucky, you might spot Venus, Jupiter, or Mercury adding extra sparkle to your evening stargazing session.This micromoon is thanks to the moon’s elliptical orbit. It swings closer and farther from Earth every month. When we get a full moon at the far point, it’s a micromoon. This May 31 Blue Moon will be about 406,000 kilometers away, which is the most distant full moon of the year.