Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A FULL MOON is coming tonight that is unlike anything we’ve seen since 2012 and that we will not see again until early 2018. It’s called a blue moon.
Despite the name, the colour of the moon will not change. This full moon is special because it is the second one to occur this month — that’s what a “blue moon” is. The first full moon happened on July 2.
Seeing two full moons in the same month is a rare phenomenon that takes place only about once every 2 1/2 years. The next blue moon will not come until January 31, 2018.
The reason we have blue moons in the first place is that the length of a calendar month on Earth is not equal to a lunar month, or the time it takes a phase of the moon to repeat (e.g., the time between two full moons or two new moons).
A lunar month is about 29 days long, whereas most of our calendar months are 30 or 31 days long. That is why the full moon doesn’t happen on the same date every month and why we sometimes see an overlap in the number of full moons within a single month.
In theory, we can see a blue moon during any month of the year except February — even on a leap year — according to Larry Ciupik, an astronomer at the Adler Planetarium who spoke with NBC about blue moons.
The term has changed over the years, so if you thought blue moon meant something other than the second full moon in a month, you’re not imagining things. It used to refer to the fourth moon in a single season.
Either way you slice it, a blue moon is an uncommon anomaly in our night sky.
You don’t have to do anything special to see the blue moon. Just look up and enjoy the view. If you can get by the clouds.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I found your letter in my mail box today.
It’s incredible looking, get out there and brave the weather and wait for a break in the clouds…it’s worth it. I’ve never seen a brighter moon
Just seen it there for the first time with the break in the clouds. Never seen it as bright. Fantastic! The more I star gaze and gawk at the moon the more I wish I was an astronaut :(
I’d love to be able to see it, pity though it ooks like the cloud won’t be moving anytime soon
Ook? I’ve heard tales of a full Moon turning humans into wolves but college librarians? oook..
Whoever wrote this or decided to post it, good job. The moon is quite magnificent tonight
Kinda cool to think that almost every human and land animal that has ever lived has stared at the moon at least once.
I saw it tonight. I’m gonna be the one to put it out there and say that it’s not really that blue..
I used to be a werewolf but I’m ok nowoooooooooo
FFS…it’s not blue…just rare… As in “just once in a very blue moon”.
Bright as FCUK though!
It wasn’t blue.
..without a dream in my heart, without a love of my own
see clouds..
have your say