Community Corner

"Blue Moon" to Shine Tonight; Next One in 2015

By John Charlesworth, Professor of Astronomy at Napa Valley College.

Friday, Aug. 31, 2012 is a “blue moon” —the second full moon within a calendar month.

There was a full moon on Aug. 1st, so tonight's full moon is  a blue moon.            

The blue moon looks the same as any other full moon. Why it is called a “blue” moon seems to be lost in antiquity.

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Blue moons are not as rare as most people realize. They occur about once
every 2 ½ years. 

The last blue moon was Dec. 31, 2009, and the next one will be July 31, 2015.

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So be careful when you say that you will do something, such as take the kids to Disneyland, “once in a blue moon.”  It might come sooner than you think!


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