Blue Micromoon and Antares Star Pairing Visible This Weekend
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A blue micromoon, the most distant and smallest-looking full moon of the year, will be visible this weekend. The red supergiant star Antares will appear alongside it, and for observers in parts of the southern hemisphere, the moon will pass in front of the star. Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project will provide a live webcast of the event from Italy.
Facts First
- A blue micromoon is visible this weekend, the most distant and smallest-looking full moon of 2026.
- The star Antares will appear alongside the moon on Sunday, a red supergiant 550 light-years away.
- The moon will pass in front of Antares for observers in Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, eastern Australia, and parts of Antarctica.
- Sunday's micromoon will appear approximately 6% smaller and 10% dimmer than an average full moon.
- A blue moon occurs every two to three years when two full moons happen in one calendar month.
What Happened
A blue micromoon... is occurring this weekend. The red supergiant star Antares will appear alongside the moon on Sunday. For observers in Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, eastern Australia, parts of Antarctica, and certain other islands, Antares will temporarily vanish as the blue micromoon passes in front of it. Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project will provide a live webcast from Italy.
Why this Matters to You
If you are in the specified southern hemisphere regions, you may witness the rare event of the moon passing in front of Antares. For observers elsewhere, you will see Antares remain constantly visible alongside the full moon. The micromoon may appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual, but it will still be a prominent night sky event. You can watch the event online via the live webcast if you are unable to see it from your location.
What's Next
The live webcast from Italy will provide a view of the event. After this weekend, the next blue moon will occur in two to three years.