Mesmerizing rare moon seen over San Francisco in stunning time-lapse

Blue moon, you saw me staring alone.

Californians were treated to a celestial spectacle this weekend as a rare blue moon rose dramatically over the Golden State, painting the sky in mesmerizing orange hues.

A breathtaking time-lapse captured by many moon gazers, including Shreenivasan Manievannan on Instagram, shows the moon climbing above San Francisco’s Bay Area between Saturday evening, May 30, and Sunday morning, May 31.

But despite its name, the blue moon wasn’t actually blue. The term refers to the second full moon in a single calendar month — a relatively uncommon event that occurs roughly every two and a half to three years.

This particular blue moon also happened to be a micromoon, appearing slightly smaller and dimmer because it occurred near the Moon’s farthest point from Earth, or apogee.

The moon reached peak illumination at approximately 1:45 a.m. PDT on May 31, perfectly framed against San Francisco’s glittering skyline.

The time-lapse compresses the moon’s journey, from its dramatic emergence over the horizon to its slow ascent, captivating viewers across social media and local astronomy communities.

This was the only blue moon of 2026. The first full moon of May, known as the flower moon, occurred on May 1, making the second one on May 31 qualify as “blue.”

Clear skies and mild late-May weather across Northern California gave many the chance to witness the show in person, with some joining organized moonrise viewing events and boat tours on the Bay.

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