Citizens across Pakistan, including in Lahore, witnessed the rare astronomical phenomenon known as a “Blue Moon” on Sunday night, as clear skies provided ideal viewing conditions for the event.

Astronomy enthusiasts, families and photography lovers gathered in various cities to observe and capture images of the full moon, which appeared prominently in the night sky.

According to astronomers, the Blue Moon occurred because May 2026 witnessed a second full moon within the same calendar month. The term “Blue Moon” is a rare astronomical designation, and such events typically occur once every two to three years.

Residents in Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Multan and several other cities observed the moon after its rise in the evening.

Chairman of the Department of Space Science at Punjab University, Professor Dr Syed Aamir Mahmood, explained that the “Blue Moon does not refer to the colour of the moon. Instead, it is an astronomical term used when two full moons occur within the same calendar month.” In May 2026, the first full moon appeared on May 1, while the second occurred on May 31.

He said this year’s Blue Moon was also a “Micromoon”, meaning the moon was positioned relatively farther from Earth in its orbit. As a result, it appeared slightly smaller and less bright than a typical full moon.

Astronomers noted that different terms are used to describe various lunar events. A Blue Moon refers to the second full moon in a calendar month, while a Supermoon occurs when a full moon appears larger and brighter because it is closer to Earth.

A Micromoon appears smaller due to its greater distance from Earth, whereas a Blood Moon describes the reddish appearance of the moon during a total lunar eclipse. Other traditional terms include the Harvest Moon, associated with the autumn season, and the Strawberry Moon, which refers to the full moon occurring in June.