2006-11-14 00:03:46 · 5 answers · asked by toots52_2000 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
"Blue Moon" is when two full moons happen in one calendar month. Since the phase period of the moon is 29.5 days, you usually only have one full moon month, but each month it is a little earlier than the previous month. About once a year or so, you get two full moons in the same calendar month, and the second one is called the "blue moon". There is no physical difference or appearance difference of the moon at this time, it just looks like a regular full moon: circular and white with gray patches.
2006-11-14 00:41:07 · answer #1 · answered by donttalkjustplay05 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The term 'blue moon' refers to having two full moons in one month. This only happens about once a year hence the expression 'Once in a blue moon' which means rarely.
The actual color of the moon (as observed from the earth) can vary due to atmospheric conditions. It is normally yellowish when it is low to the horizon and bright white when high over head. As an aside, a very interesting thing, when the moon is low to the horizon, it appears very large. This is a construct in the human brain - If you take a dime and hold it out arms length you can see that the size of the moon with respect to the sky actually doesn't change!
The moon may appear blue as mentioned due to atmospheric conditions. Usually after volcanoes or bad forest fires this phenomenum might be observed.
2006-11-14 10:32:11 · answer #2 · answered by Leonardo D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Visibly blue moons
The most obvious meaning of blue moon is when the moon (not necessarily a full moon) appears to a casual observer to be unusually bluish, which is a rare event. The effect can be caused by smoke or dust particles in the atmosphere, such as happened after forest fires in Sweden in 1950 and Canada in 1951 and, notably, after the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, which caused the moon to appear blue for nearly two years.
2006-11-14 08:07:45 · answer #3 · answered by Basement Bob 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A blue moon is a term for two full moons happening in the same month. There's no color involved.
2006-11-14 08:16:37 · answer #4 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought a blue moon was when there are two full moons in one month...the second being the blue moon. I don't think it is actually blue, the is just what they call it. But I could be wrong...that is just what I've heard.
2006-11-14 08:07:01 · answer #5 · answered by sealguy77 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋