The term "blue moon" is commonly used metaphorically to describe the rarity of an event, as in the idiomatic expression, "once in a blue moon." Since it happens every 2-3 years, guess it is not as rare as the phrase indicates.
Dec 31, 2009
Once in a Blue Moon
Tonight, there will be the 13th full moon of the year. Wonder if that will have any impact on the festivities as the new year comes in :o)
A blue moon is a full moon that is not timed to the regular monthly pattern. Most years have twelve full moons which occur approximately monthly, but in addition to those twelve full lunar cycles, each calendar year contains an excess of roughly eleven days. The extra days accumulate, so that every two or three years (on average about every 2.7154 years), there is an extra full moon. The extra moon is called a "blue moon."
The term "blue moon" is commonly used metaphorically to describe the rarity of an event, as in the idiomatic expression, "once in a blue moon." Since it happens every 2-3 years, guess it is not as rare as the phrase indicates.
The term "blue moon" is commonly used metaphorically to describe the rarity of an event, as in the idiomatic expression, "once in a blue moon." Since it happens every 2-3 years, guess it is not as rare as the phrase indicates.
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I'm sure there will be a lot of howling at that moon tonight.
ReplyDeleteI thought that blue moons occurred when there were two full moons in a given month. Now, it seems as though it is based on a yearly cycle, rather than monthly, but the yearly cycle is tied to the "old style", or orbital year, between winter solstices. That makes the official "blue moon" different. Check out the article: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/moon/3304131.html?showAll=y&c=y for more information.
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy!
Blue moon or not, I am sure the full moon on New Year's Eve will produce record events on "Amateur Night"!
Happy New Year.
i heard there was supposed to be some sort of lunar eclipse tonight but it's so cloudy here i doubt we will be able to see anything.
ReplyDeletehappy new year!
xxalainaxx
Bucko:
ReplyDeleteNice read! I wish you and Beth a wonderful evening and an even better new year.
P&L
Wes & Family
Glad you had fun with Mom. Have a happy new year!
ReplyDeleteThen there is the Lime Gree Moon, which occurs when there are 5 casual Fridays in one month, and everybody goes out for margerhitas afterward.
ReplyDeleteI like Mark's Lime Green Moon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this explanation, Ken. There will be no moon, blue or otherwise in these local precipitous clouds. I have a feeling no one will be looking up at it anyway. Some fire works are already going off around here, of an amateur nature.
D
Hope all is well with ya! It's is pretty cool that there is a blue moon on New Years Eve isn't it! I hope you truly have a Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteKim was outside taking pictures of the blue moon while it was hanging low in the horizon. Happy New Year to you and Beth!
ReplyDelete