May astronomy outlook: The only Blue Moon of the year rises

May delivers the remnants of Halley's Comet in the form of a meteor shower, and also the only Blue Moon of the year.

First up in May is the rise of a full moon on May 1st. Native Americans gave this moon the moniker of the Flower Moon, for its spring timing as flowers came to bloom.

Soon after, the Eta Aquarids shower reaches its peak. In the Southern Hemisphere, this can bring up to 60 meteors an hour, but just 30 for us in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also notable for being the remnants of Halley's Comet.

One of the oldest recorded comets to visit Earth, the shower has been active since April 19th and runs until May 28th, peaking overnight of May 6th.

A New Moon on the 16th offers the clearest view of the stars, free from the moonlight, if our weather around that time is also pleasant.

May ends with a second full moon, the only Blue Moon of 2026, which rises as we move into June. Keep an eye on the WeatherRadar throughout to find the best times for a night under the stars.