This weekend brings a rare blue micromoon, a term describing the second full moon in a single calendar month — an event that happens roughly every two to three years. While the moon won’t appear blue, it will be the most distant and smallest-looking full moon of the year, located about 252,360 miles from Earth. This contrasts with a supermoon, when the moon is much closer and appears larger and brighter.

Adding to the spectacle, the red supergiant star Antares — known as the 'heart of the scorpion' in the constellation Scorpius — will be positioned directly behind the moon for observers in parts of the Southern Hemisphere. This creates a brief occultation, where Antares temporarily vanishes as the moon passes in front of it.

The micromoon will appear about 6% smaller and 10% dimmer than an average full moon, though these differences may be too subtle for most casual observers to notice. The event offers a quiet but meaningful moment for skywatchers, especially in regions like Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, and eastern Australia where the alignment is most visible.