🩸 Blood Moon, Super Bloom, & a Total Eclipse: Your 5-Minute Guide to the Full Moon May 2026
Here are the top 5 things you need to know about this month's celestial event.
- It's a "Blood Moon" Total Lunar Eclipse: The full moon on May 23, 2026, won't just be full—it will be totally eclipsed by Earth's shadow. The entire event will be visible across most of the Americas, giving the Moon a deep, rusty red hue for over an hour. If you're in California, set your alarm for 4:11 AM ET / 1:11 AM PT for the peak of the total phase.
- It's a "Flower Moon" Supermoon: Because this full moon coincides with perigee (the Moon's closest point to Earth), it will appear about 7% larger and 15% brighter than a standard full moon. Native American traditions call the May full moon the "Flower Moon" after the spring blooms—so expect a massive, pinkish-red flower in the sky.
- The "Great American Eclipse" Companion: This is the last total lunar eclipse visible from the contiguous U.S. until March 2029. If you miss it, you'll have to wait nearly three years for the next one. Weather permitting, it will be a coast-to-coast show from Alaska to Maine.
- How to Watch Safely & Easily: Unlike a solar eclipse, this is completely safe to watch with your naked eyes. No special glasses needed. Just step outside away from city lights, look west after sunset on May 22 (for those in North America) or east before dawn on May 23. Best views are from a high spot with an unobstructed horizon.
- Social Media Hashtag to Use: The astronomy community is already buzzing with the tag #FlowerBloodMoon2026. You'll see time