Flower Moon 2026: May’s first full moon and the blue moon explained

May’s first full moon, the Flower Moon, peaks on May 1, 2026 at 1:23 p.m. ET and will be visible around the world depending on local weather; the name comes from the spring bloom season and has other historic names like Frog Moon and Milk Moon. Later in May, a second full moon—the blue moon—will occur on May 31, though it will appear smaller (a micromoon) because it’s farther from Earth. The piece also lists all 2026 full moons and notes the cultural and astronomical context behind these Moon-name traditions.