EarthSky Says Full Flower Moon Is a Micromoon on May 1, 2026
EarthSky says the full flower moon on May 1, 2026, is a micromoon, using a definition tied to the moon’s farthest point from Earth in its orbit. Fred Espenak’s AstroPixels website lists that full moon as one of 2026’s micromoons, while other sources count the year differently.
The difference comes down to how close a full moon must be to apogee to qualify. AstroPixels says a micromoon is a new moon or full moon phase that occurs near apogee, within 90% of its greatest distance to Earth in a given orbit, and EarthSky says 2026 may have either two or three micromoons in a row depending on the source used.
Espenak and AstroPixels
Espenak’s AstroPixels site lists three full micromoons for 2026: May 1, May 31, and June 29. Timeanddate.com lists two full micromoons for the year, on May 31 and June 29, and does not include the May 1 full Flower Moon in that count.
EarthSky says the full Flower Moon on May 1 is a micromoon according to AstroPixels. The site’s definition says that when the new moon or full moon phase occurs near apogee, the moon subtends its smallest apparent diameter as seen from Earth. AstroPixels says that applying its definition produces a mean limiting distance of 401,293 km for a micromoon.
May 31 and June 29
The two sources do agree on the next two full micromoons in 2026. Timeanddate.com says the next micromoon is the Blue Moon of May 30-31, 2026, and AstroPixels also lists that full moon as a micromoon. Both sources say the full Strawberry Moon of June 29, 2026, is a micromoon.
AstroPixels lists the May 30-31 full moon at 252,360 miles, or 406,135 kilometers, from Earth. That compares with the moon’s average distance of 238,900 miles, or 384,472 kilometers. EarthSky says a full micromoon appears about 12-14% smaller than a full supermoon and about 7% smaller than a full moon at an average distance.
December 9 new micromoon
EarthSky says 2026 has only one new micromoon, and it will come on December 9. The site says that new micromoon will be the most distant new moon of the year, at 251,460 miles, or 404,687 kilometers, from Earth.
For readers tracking the sky during 2026, the practical takeaway is simple: EarthSky’s May 1 full Flower Moon is one of the year’s micromoons, but the exact yearly count depends on whether a source includes that first full moon near apogee. By June 29, the sources line up again.
