All articles tagged with #blue moon
On May 26, the waxing Moon (about 83% illuminated) will pass near Spica, the blue-white star in Virgo. Spica is a binary giant-star system with a combined luminosity of more than 12,000 suns. The Moon will be roughly 40° high at sunset and drift toward Spica through the night, setting on May 27; the week also features a Blue Moon later in the month.
NASA says Artemis 3 will be one of its most complex missions, testing rendezvous and docking in Earth orbit between the Orion crew capsule and private lunar landers (SpaceX’s Starship and/or Blue Origin’s Blue Moon) as a stepping stone to Artemis 4’s moon landing; the crew will spend more time in Orion, a spacer will mimic the upper stage to save cost, and lander tests and cubesats could be part of the run — Artemis 3 is now planned for late 2027.
Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 crew lander mockup has been assembled at NASA’s Johnson Space Center Space Vehicle Mockup Facility and is now ready for Artemis astronaut training, enabling crews to train in a full-scale cabin adjacent to the Orion capsule as Artemis 3 prep continues; Artemis 3 targets a 2027–2028 window depending on lander readiness, with NASA planning to fly either Starship or Blue Moon, while Blue Moon MK1 cargo variant has completed vacuum testing for an uncrewed lunar mission, though schedules remain subject to delays and regulatory reviews (FAA).
May’s full flower moon is a micromoon, meaning the Moon is at apogee and roughly 249,180 miles from Earth. Peak brightness occurs at 1:23 p.m. ET, so most observers won’t see it at its brightest, but clear skies Friday night will still offer good stargazing. It’s the first of two full moons in May, with the next being a blue moon on May 31.
May’s Flower Moon will be a micromoon—nearly 250,000 miles away—so it’ll look smaller and dimmer than average, with 100% illumination at 1:24 p.m. ET on May 1 and visible after sunset around the world; it may appear orange near the horizon due to Rayleigh scattering. The month’s second full Moon, on May 31, is a Blue Moon and will also be a micromoon, making May 2026 a rare two-full-moon month; Blue Moons occur in about 6% of full Moons; binoculars or a telescope can help spot craters and landmarks.
May 2026 offers a rare lunar pair (Flower Moon on May 1 and a blue moon on May 31), a peak Eta Aquariid meteor shower with moonlight limiting visibility, close Mars–Saturn conjunctions around May 12–13, a bright Moon–Venus pairing on May 18, and the best Milky Way core viewing near the May 16 new moon, making it one of the year's most rewarding observing windows for skygazers and astrophotographers.
May’s Flower Moon will be fully illuminated at 1:23 p.m. EDT on May 1 as it sits near apogee, appearing smaller as a micromoon about 29.72 arcminutes across; a rare Blue Moon follows later in May on the 31st, meaning two full moons in one calendar month. As night falls, look for Venus at sunset with Jupiter above it, and Spica and Arcturus higher in the sky, while Rayleigh scattering may give the Moon a yellow-orange hue as it climbs and sets.
May’s first full Moon, the Flower Moon, peaks May 1 at 1:23 p.m. ET and is named for spring blooms (also called Frog Moon or Milk Moon). A second full Moon in May on May 31 creates a blue Moon, which may appear smaller (a micromoon) if it’s farther from Earth. Clear skies will give the best view, but weather can affect visibility.
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.
NASA is restructuring the Artemis program to split the previously planned Artemis 3 lunar landing into multiple missions and accelerate the cadence. Artemis 2 remains on track for a 10-day lunar flyby, with repairs targeting an April 1 launch window. Artemis 3 will no longer be the first Moon lander; instead, it shifts to in‑orbit rendezvous and docking with lunar landers in 2027, followed by Artemis 4 and Artemis 5 in 2028 delivering two surface landings using a standardized SLS and commercial landers (SpaceX Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon). The overhaul aims to reduce risk by spreading firsts across several missions and speeding readiness, though experts warn the schedule could slip.
Blue Origin will ground its New Shepard suborbital spaceflight for at least two years to devote resources to lunar development, including the Blue Moon lunar lander and NASA's Artemis program; Artemis 5 is targeted for 2029, a robotic Blue Moon pathfinder is planned for this year, and Artemis 2 could launch as early as February 2026.
In a candid THR interview, Ethan Hawke discusses his lead turn as the tormented Lorenz Hart in Blue Moon, a 1943 New York night-set drama from Richard Linklater, and how the role marks a deeper shift from leading roles to character work. He reflects on the film’s single-location setup during Oklahoma!’s opening night at Sardi’s, the ongoing Oscar campaign, and the broader state of independent cinema. Hawke also hints at a forthcoming Linklater project, while acknowledging funding hurdles and the importance of bold, smaller films alongside major projects.
Ethan Hawke discusses his role in 'Blue Moon,' a film delayed for 12 years to allow him to age into the part, his reflections on legacy, his diverse career, and why there won't be another 'Before' film, emphasizing the completeness of the trilogy and his focus on meaningful art over fame.
Ethan Hawke stars in two contrasting roles in theaters now: as a serial killer in 'Black Phone 2' and as a lyricist in 'Blue Moon,' alongside a lineup of diverse films including 'Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein' and Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi's latest. The articles highlight Hawke's versatile performances and the variety of current cinematic offerings.
'Blue Moon' is a focused biographical film by Richard Linklater that captures a single night in the life of lyricist Lorenz Hart, with Ethan Hawke delivering a performance that emphasizes character and essence over strict accuracy, highlighting the challenges and liberties of portraying real people in film.