Overview
- The moon reached its official full‑moon position at 10:45 UTC on Sunday, May 31, 2026, qualifying as a Blue Moon because it was the second full moon in the calendar month.
- After moonrise on the evening of May 31 the Blue Moon stayed visible through the night and set the next morning at about 05:15 local time in many German cities.
- Observers reported a very large horizon moon at rise, an effect caused by the human 'moon illusion' that makes the eye judge the moon larger when seen near buildings or trees.
- Astronomical data show the moon reached apogee about 06:32 UTC on June 1 at roughly 406,366 km, which made this Blue Moon a micromoon about 5–7% smaller in apparent diameter.
- Local photographers captured dramatic views in cities such as Hamburg while outlets explained that 'Blue Moon' is a colloquial label for rarity and that the next double‑full‑month events are predicted for December 2, 2028 and September 1, 2031.