In pictures – the stunning Blue Moon 2026 captured by photographers from around the world

In pictures – the stunning Blue Moon 2026 captured by photographers from around the world

Pictures of the 31st May 2026 full Moon – known as a Blue Moon – captured by photographers from across the globe

Get monthly inspiration to your door with BBC Sky At Night Magazine - subscribe today
The Blue Moon rises over the Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion near Athens, Greece, 31 May 2026. Photo by Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Blue Moon rises over the Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion near Athens, Greece, 31 May 2026. Photo by Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images

Iain Todd

The Blue Moon of 31th May 2026 was one of the most-hyped full Moons of the year.

Rising over the weekend of 30th and 31st May, the full Moon was the second full Moon to occur in the same month, making it a 'Blue Moon'

It was also a 'micromoon', because the Moon reached its full phase just a day before it reached the furthest point from Earth in its orbit.

More on the Moon

How to photograph the Moon. Credit: Rawpixel / Getty Images
Credit: Rawpixel / Getty Images

That meant the Moon would appear at its smallest apparent size from our perspective on Earth; hence the term 'micromoon' or, in this case 'Blue Micromoon'.

Many observers took to photographing the 31st May 2026 Blue Moon, some capturing it just above the horizon and making it look much larger than normal (an effect known as the Moon illusion).

Here are some of the best photographs of the 2026 Blue Moon by photographers from around the globe.

The Blue Moon captured by James M from Kent, UK, 1 June 2026, 00:32 local time. Equipment: Panasonic DMC-TZ60 camera. Exposure: f/6.4, 1/250s, ISO-800
The Blue Moon captured by James M from Kent, UK, 1 June 2026, 00:32 local time. Equipment: Panasonic DMC-TZ60 camera. Exposure: f/6.4, 1/250s, ISO-800
The Blue Moon captured by Joanne West on 30 May 2026, just after sunset, Usery Mountain Regional Park, Arizona, USA
The Blue Moon captured by Joanne West on 30 May 2026, just after sunset, Usery Mountain Regional Park, Arizona, USA
The full Blue Moon by Kyle Gradzki over East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, USA, 31 May, 04:40 local time. Equipment: Canon EOS 90D DSLR camera, Tiffen 77mm Circular polarising filter. Exposure: 32.5MP, f/11, 1/25s, ISO 100
The full Blue Moon by Kyle Gradzki over East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, USA, 31 May, 04:40 local time. Equipment: Canon EOS 90D DSLR camera, Tiffen 77mm Circular polarising filter. Exposure: 32.5MP, f/11, 1/25s, ISO 100
The Blue Moon captured by Teresa Molinaro, Sicily, Italy, 30 May 2026, 20:26 local time. Equipment: Nikon D7500 camera, Nikkor 70-300mm lens. Exposure: Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) technique, f/25, 1/5s, ISO 640
The Blue Moon captured by Teresa Molinaro, Sicily, Italy, 30 May 2026, 20:26 local time. Equipment: Nikon D7500 camera, Nikkor 70-300mm lens. Exposure: Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) technique, f/25, 1/5s, ISO 640
The almost-full Moon captured by Paolo Palma next to the Castello Aragonese di Baia, Bacoli, Italy 30 May 2026. Equipment: Nikon Coolpix P510 camera
The almost-full Moon captured by Paolo Palma next to the Castello Aragonese di Baia, Bacoli, Italy, 30 May 2026. Equipment: Nikon Coolpix P510 camera
The setting Blue Moon captured by Giovanni Passalacqua, Ragusa, Sicily, Italy, 31 May 2026, 05:18 local time. Equipment: Canon EOS R DSLR camera, Sigma 600mm lens. Exposure: ISO 1250, f/7.0, 0.3s
The setting Blue Moon captured by Giovanni Passalacqua, Ragusa, Sicily, Italy, 31 May 2026, 05:18 local time. Equipment: Canon EOS R DSLR camera, Sigma 600mm lens. Exposure: ISO 1250, f/7.0, 0.3s
The full Blue Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City, USA, 30 May 2026. Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images
The full Blue Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City, USA, 30 May 2026. Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images
The 31st May Blue Moon rising over Sydney Opera House, Australia. Photo by Steve Christo - Corbis via Getty Images
The 31st May Blue Moon rising over Sydney Opera House, Australia. Photo by Steve Christo - Corbis via Getty Images
The just-before-full Moon rising behind the Eiffel Tower, Paris, 30 May 2026. Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
The just-before-full Moon rising behind the Eiffel Tower, Paris, 30 May 2026. Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
The Blue Moon rises over the Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion near Athens, Greece, 31 May 2026. Photo by Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Blue Moon rises over the Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion near Athens, Greece, 31 May 2026. Photo by Costas Baltas/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Blue Moon over Tanmen Port in Qionghai, Hainan Province of China, 31 May 2026. Photo by Meng Zhongde/VCG via Getty Images. Lighthouse
The Blue Moon over Tanmen Port in Qionghai, Hainan Province of China, 31 May 2026. Photo by Meng Zhongde/VCG via Getty Images

Did you capture an image of the 31 May 2026 Blue Moon? Send us your images and they could appear in a future issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Author avatar

Iain Todd

Science journalist

Iain Todd is BBC Sky at Night Magazine's Content Editor who has been writing about astronomy and space science for over a decade. He has covered major stargazing events, space launches and the latest news in cosmology, astrophysics, planetary and space science.
Footer banner
This website is owned and published by Our Media Ltd. www.ourmedia.co.uk
© Our Media 2026