Moon Phases in May 2026
The dates of the four major moon phases in May 2026:
- Full Moon on May 1 and May 31
- Last Quarter on May 9
- New Moon on May 16
- First Quarter on May 23
The four phases of the moon
The four major phases of the moon are the new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter.
A new moon is the first lunar phase that happens about once a month or 29.53 days on average. The moon itself is not visible, though you may be able to “see” it because it blocks the visibility of the stars behind it.
A full moon occurs when the Earth is directly between the Sun and Moon, so that the moon appears completely illuminated. It happens about once a month, or 29.53 days on average.
The first quarter moon occurs between the new moon and full moon, and the last quarter moon occurs after the full moon and before the next new moon.
Moon Phases Calendar for May 2026
All phase dates and times are in the USA Eastern Time adjusted for Daylight Savings Time for part of the year.
May 1
May 10
May 16
May 23
May 31
| Moon Phase | Date | Time | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Moon May 2026 | May 1 (Friday) | 1:23 p.m. EDT | Spring |
| Last Quarter May 2026 | May 9 (Saturday) | 5:11 p.m. EDT | Spring |
| New Moon May 2026 | May 16 (Saturday) | 4:01 p.m. EDT | Spring |
| First Quarter May 2026 | May 23 (Saturday) | 7:11 a.m. EDT | Spring |
| Blue Moon May 2026 | May 31 (Sunday) | 4:45 a.m. EDT | Spring |