A rare Blue Moon will light up the skies over Cochrane this weekend, but Mother Nature may have other plans.
The Blue Moon reaches its peak early Sunday morning, May 31. Despite the name, it won’t actually appear blue. A Blue Moon occurs when there are two full moons in the same calendar month, an uncommon event that happens every two to three years.
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This year’s Blue Moon is even more unique because it’s also a micromoon, meaning the moon will be near its farthest point from Earth and appear slightly smaller than usual.
For skywatchers in Cochrane, viewing conditions may be challenging. Environment Canada is calling for showers Saturday with rain continuing Saturday night and periods of rain on Sunday, potentially limiting visibility of the lunar event.
If the clouds break, some of the best local spots to view or photograph the full moon include Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, Big Hill Springs Provincial Park, the Cochrane Ranche area, and rural roads east of town where light pollution is minimal.
The moon will appear full from Saturday night through Sunday evening, giving residents more than one opportunity to catch a glimpse of one of 2026’s rare celestial events.
Candice Johnson – The Homestretch