moon | EarthSky

Pink flowers in the foreground, and a night sky and full moon in the background.

May 1 full moon is a Flower Moon and micromoon

The 1st May full moon happens on May 1. It'll look full on the nights before and after that, too. The 2nd May full moon - a Blue Moon - will fall on May 30-31.

The half-lit moon with an arrow pointing to a blue spot right on the horizon of the lit portion.

Falcon rocket will hit the moon on August 5

A Falcon 9 rocket will hit the moon on August 5, 2026. How fast will it be going? Will we be able to see it? Answers and more here.

Two full moons side by side. The right one is distinctly smaller.

What is a micromoon? We have 2 coming in May

What is a micromoon? It's a full or new moon near its farthest from Earth for the month. Depending on your definition, 2026 has either 2 or 3 full micromoons.

Close-up of a 1st quarter moon along the terminator with arrows pointing to the X and V regions.

Here’s how to see the Lunar X and V at 1st-quarter moon

Lunar X and Lunar V are optical features on the moon. They are visible through a telescope for several hours around the time of the 1st quarter moon.

2 large planets with dusty disks around them. One has magnetic field lines arcing from pole to pole.

Why do Jupiter’s large moons outnumber Saturn’s?

Jupiter's large moons - Ganymede, Callisto, Io and Europa - number four. But Saturn has just one large moon, Titan. Why? It may be the planets' magnetic fields.

A rocky gray surface with deep black within large and small craters.

There’s less ice in moon’s shadows than 1st thought

Ice in moon’s shadows is scarce, NASA’s ShadowCam finds, with only small, scattered deposits instead of the abundant ice once expected.

Coastline with waves coming in, and sky with moon above shredded clouds in with pink band in the sky in background.

Watch for the daytime moon after sunrise this week

Watch for the beautiful daytime moon this week, a pale orb floating against a blue sky in the morning hours. Look west! You'll see it!

Sky chart: The full moon near the star Spica, along the steep green ecliptic line.

April full moon is the Pink Moon overnight on April 1

The April 2026 full moon – overnight on April 1-2 – is the Pink Moon and will lie near the star Spica in the constellation Virgo.

Animation showing full illuminated Earth and moon, with moon's far side facing camera.

5 moon myths that still fool people today

There are plenty of myths that surround the moon. Here are 5 of the most popular. How many of these myths have you been led to believe?

Earthlike planet with oceans orbiting a larger, ringed Saturn-like planet in black space.

Moons of rogue planets habitable for billions of years?

Could moons of rogue planets support life? A new study led by researchers in Germany shows they could, if they have hydrogen atmospheres.

Gray, rolling landscape under a black sky, with small buildings, rockets, and astronauts.

Moon base and Mars! NASA makes exciting announcements

Moon base and Mars mission! NASA administrator Jared Isaacman announced them as part of a series of new NASA initiatives on March 24, 2026.

Animation of many small moons circling Saturn, with colorful orbits displayed.

More moons for Jupiter and Saturn! New totals here

The Minor Planet Center announced 4 more moons for Jupiter and 11 for Saturn on March 16, 2026. Their new grand totals? Saturn has 285 and Jupiter has 101.

Sun in a blue sky with a ring of light around it, and an outstretched finger blocking the sun itself.

What makes a halo around the sun or moon?

A halo around the sun or moon often appears as a glowing ring in the sky. It’s a stunning sight, but have you ever wondered what causes it?

Six kinds of shrink-wrapped food, and a knife, fork, and scissors.

What will Artemis 2 astronauts eat on their moon trip?

Get a peek at the items that will be on the menu for Artemis 2 astronauts as they make their journey to the moon in 2026.

New moon map reveals areas of recent tectonic activity

A new moon map and study from the Smithsonian Institution reveals ridges in the dark lunar plains showing evidence for recent tectonic activity on the moon.