Rare Blue Moon will decorate the night sky on October 31st. Spotting a rare celestial phenomenon is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween.

We don’t really get to see a blue moon that often. The blue-tinged beauty has been impressing people since ancient times. It may occur once in many decades and that’s what makes it even more impressive.

A Blue Moon is a celestial phenomenon in which the full moon appears within a given period. Of course, the name has nothing to do with the blue color. Well, the moon may turn blue at some point due to some rare atmospheric conditions.

People are confused. Astrologists recognize a seasonal Blue Moon and monthly Blue Moon. The seasonal Blue Moon was long thought to be the true definition of a Blue Moon.

It’s actually the third of four full moons in one astronomical season. It appears between each solstice and equinox. The Maine Farmer’s Almanac released in August 1937 has an old definition of the Blue Moon. It’s still acceptable.

The days in a calendar month affect the monthly Blue Moon. The lunar month lasts 29.5 days. We all know that most months of the year have a couple of extra days.

This affects the lunar cycle and there’s a 13th full moon in one calendar year. That’s how the monthly Blue Moon was determined. Experts have accepted both definitions of the Blue Moon. It’s up to you to decide what works best for your criteria.

The 2020 Blue Moon

This year the Blue Moon will occur on October 31st, 2020. The perfect way to celebrate Halloween, right?

The last Blue Moons were spotted on the night sky in January and March of 2018. Two Blue Moons? This phenomenon is referred to as a double Blue Moon.  We will probably have this again in 2037.

The first full moon in October will occur on the first day of the month. This is the Harvest Moon or the full moon closest to the autumn equinox. The second full moon will happen on the last day of the month. It’s the Blue Moon itself. Experts always say that the second full moon in the month takes the title of the Blue Moon.

Blue Moons take place every two and a half years. We will have a blue moon on Halloween in 20139. Meteorologist Brian Lada explains that “after the blue Moon on October 31, 2020, trick-or-treaters will need to wait until 2039 to see the next Blue Moon on Halloween.”

The seasonal blue moon

It’s another amazing phenomenon. We won’t be seeing it in 2020. It will pop up in the night sky on August 22, 2021.

Is the Blue moon actually blue?

The moon is silver, white, or cream-shaded. Some people say that the moon is sometimes blue. Well, this hue is actually a result of some dust particles and smoke. One of these faux blue moons was nothing but a result of a volcanic eruption. The moon was blue for a couple of years.

In 1883, the Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia shocked natives with a violent explosion. The ash clouds were full of particles that were one micron wide. The particles scattered red light and filtered other colors. What happened next? The moonlight shone through the magical clouds and people thought it was blue.

Source: www.marthastewart.com