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\nArnold PetersenCape Town city skyline at night with moon in the sky <\/p>\n
Skywatchers across South Africa will be treated to a Blue Moon on Sunday, 31st May. Is it going to be a blue colour? The answer depends on what type of \u201cBlue Moon\u201d it is. <\/p>\n
A Blue Moon is (usually) not blue in colour at all. Instead its about its rarity and timing. So \u201cBlue\u201d is the name given to a full moon event that happens because the Moon\u2019s cycle does not fit perfectly into our calendar.\u00a0 A calendar Blue Moon is the second full moon in a single calendar month. So May 2026 is\u00a0going to have two full moons \u2013 it had one on the 1st May (the Flower Full Moon) and now the second one, coming on the 31st May (the Blue Moon).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Time Out Tip: Moonrise begins at 5:40 PM to 5:50 PM South African time (SAST), close to sunset.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To make it even more weird, there is also such a thing as a \u2018seasonal Blue Moon\u2019. This refers to the third full moon in a season that contains four full moons instead of the usual three.\u00a0 A \u201cseason,\u201d in this context, is the period of time between a solstice and an equinox. Each season typically lasts three months and typically has three full moons. If the season has four full moons, then third one is called a \u2018seasonal Blue Moon\u2019. Which explains how the expression, \u201conce in a blue moon\u201d came about \u2013 it\u2019s clearly an uncommon event!\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nArnold PetersenCape Town city skyline at night with moon in the sky
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When is the moon really blue?<\/p>\n
Sometimes, however, the moon can appear blue in colour but this only occurs after major volcanic eruptions or large wildfires. The moon takes on a bluish tint because tiny smoke or dust particles in the atmosphere scatter red light.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Is it going to be a \u201cbig\u201d moon?<\/p>\n
The Blue Full Moon on the 31st May is actually the most distant full micromoon of 2026.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s a \u2018micromoon\u2019? That\u2019s when the new or full moon is at its greatest distance from Earth.\u00a0 So it will look about 7% smaller than an average full moon.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry \u2013 the moon will always look big when it rises above the horizon. Ever wondered why? Well, Nasa<\/a> says that it isn\u2019t some trick of the light or atmospheric physics. It\u2019s actually an optical illusion. They are unclear exactly why it looks bigger but clearly we know the moon’s physical size doesn’t change. Instead, your brain is tricked by context. When the moon is low on the horizon, your brain compares it to foreground objects like trees and buildings, making it appear massively magnified in comparison. That\u2019s the theory anyway.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Where to watch the Blue Moon rise:\u00a0
How to make the most of the full moon: Did you know? The silver path of moonlight across the ocean is often called a moon glade \u2014 a luminous trail that appears to shimmer on the water between the viewer and the moon.\u00a0<\/p>\n ICYMI: Cape Town\u00a0<\/a>voted one of the world’s best cities for culture!<\/a><\/p>\n Sign up to Time Out Cape Town’s free newsletter\u00a0<\/a>for expert recommendations on new things to do, see,\u00a0eat\u00a0and\u00a0drink\u00a0in the Mother City. You can also follow\u00a0Time Out Cape Town on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0TikTok<\/a>!<\/p>\n
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\nLion\u2019s Head is one of the best places to watch the moonrise and the summit gives spectacular 360\u00b0 views. There is something very romantic about watching a golden (Blue) moon rising above the twinkly lights of the city. If you\u2019relucky there will even be some twinkly fireflies around! If you do climb up to Lion\u2019s Head, start before sunset, bring a head torch, and avoid hiking entirely alone late at night. Note that this trail includes ladders, so if this is not the best option for you, try a beach blue-moon viewing instead.
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\nAny of the Cape Town beaches that have a clear eastern horizon, and with minimal mountain obstruction, are good for watching the moon rise over the sea. Boulders Beach and Fish Hoek beach are also good viewpoints, and you might even see some twinkly bioluminescence in the moonlit waves. The Shark Spotters Lookout Point \/ Observation Deck on Boyes Drive is also an excellent elevated point at which to watch the moon rise across False Bay.\u00a0
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\nArrive 30\u201345 minutes before moonrise, to settle in for the show (and to let the wine breathe)
\nThe moon often looks largest and most golden just above the horizon.\u00a0
\nBring warm layers \u2014 late May evenings can be cold and windy\u00a0
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