October 10, 2026

Athens News

News in English from Greece

The Blue Moon illuminated Sounion and Nafplio


An impressive celestial spectacle residents and guests of Greece observed in the last hours of May: over Sounion, Nafplio and other areas of the country, the so-called “Blue Moon”.

The full moon looked especially impressive above Temple of Poseidon in Sounionwhere the bright moonlight created a truly atmospheric view over the Aegean Sea.

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The last day of May ended with a rare and beautiful astronomical phenomenon, which attracted the attention of lovers of the night sky and those who simply happened to be at the right moment by the sea or on open observation platforms. The moon appeared in the sky at approximately 20:36 and remained visible throughout the night until early Monday morning, June 1.

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Particularly memorable shots were taken in Sounionewhere the full moon rose above the sea horizon and illuminated one of Greece’s most recognizable monuments. No less impressive images were recorded in Nafpliowhere the night landscape also acquired special expressiveness thanks to the bright moonlight.

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Term “Blue Moon” often causes confusion, but we are not talking about the real blue color of the Earth’s satellite. This astronomical and figurative name usually used to refer to second full moon within one calendar month. In other words, the unusualness of the phenomenon is not associated with the color of the Moon, but with the rarity of such a coincidence in the calendar.

Despite the name, the Moon that night retained its usual silvery-golden hue. But the very effect of its appearance was truly strong: the combination of a clear sky, sea horizon and historical landscapes made the last hours of May especially picturesque.

Such phenomena remind us every time that even in an era of overloaded everyday life, nature and the sky are still capable of stopping a person at least for a few minutes. And this may be one of the few pieces of good news that doesn’t require a press conference or a government bill.



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