Kaliningrad will have two full moons and meteor shower in May

Maio 2026 promises to be an exceptional month for skywatchers in the Kaliningrado region. Dois rare astronomical phenomena will occur simultaneously: a meteor shower from Aquáridas and the emergence of two full moons in the same month — an extremely unusual event that experts call Lua Azul.

Chuva of meteors peaks in May

The Aquáridas meteor shower will reach its peak on May 5th or 6th, as reported by Planetário of Moscou. The phenomenon will be generated by the residues of Cometa Halley, producing approximately 40 meteors per hour under ideal observation conditions.

Celestial fireballs travel at an impressive speed of 66 kilometers per second. Para view the show with better quality, experts recommend that observers position themselves away from urban lights after midnight, in the early hours of the morning.

The shower’s radiant — the apparent point of origin of the meteors — is located in the constellation Aquário, visible in the southeast near the horizon. Morning observation offers the best conditions to follow the luminous shots across the sky.

The Cometa Halley and its cycles

Cometa Halley itself will be visible again from Terra only in 2061, marking its next encounter with our planet. The last direct observation occurred in 1986, leaving a gap of 75 years between sightings.

The debris left behind by the comet’s previous passage continues to circulate through space, crossing Earth’s orbit annually. Esse crossover generates the Aquáridas meteor shower, one of the most reliable events on the astronomical calendar.

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Duas full moons in a single month

Simultaneamente, Kaliningrado and the rest of the planet will face a rare phenomenon: two full moons in May. The interval between two full moons is exactly 29.53 days — a period slightly shorter than a common month in the Gregorian calendar.

Essa small difference accumulates over time. Every approximately 2.7 years, the calendar accumulates an additional full moon, allowing 13 full moons to occur in a year instead of the usual 12.

Esse phenomenon is commonly called Lua Azul, although it has no relationship with the color of the natural satellite. The name refers only to the occurrence of the second full moon within the same month — a circumstance that ancient calendars did not adequately predict.

Como observe the events

• Melhor time: Após midnight until dawn, especially between 3 and 5 am
• ideal Local: Áreas rural areas without intense light pollution
• Equipamento: Observação with the naked eye is enough; no need for telescope
• Período from the meteor shower: May 5th and 6th, 2026
• Radiant’s Posição: Constelação from Aquário, southeast near horizon

The conjunction of these two rare events makes May an especially significant month for amateur astronomers and those curious about celestial phenomena. The combination of a vigorous meteor shower with the unusual appearance of two full moons offers a unique opportunity for astronomical contemplation during 2026.