Blue moon information

A blue moon is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) as (1) A moon (real, depicted, or imagined) that appears blue; (2) (Since c1820) a long or indefinite length of time; a rarely recurring period or event (“once in a blue moon”); (3) (Since 1946) a second full moon in a calendar month, or formerly (from 1937) the third full moon in a season containing four full moons.^[1]

The calendrical meaning of "blue moon" (3) is unconnected to the other meanings. It is often referred to as “traditional”,^[2]^[3] but since no occurrences are known prior to 1937 it is better described as an invented tradition or “modern American folklore”.^[4] The practice of designating the second full moon in a month as "blue" originated with amateur astronomer James Hugh Pruett in 1946.^[5]

The moon - not necessarily full - can sometimes appear blue due to atmospheric emissions from large forest fires or volcanoes, though the phenomenon is rare and unpredictable (hence the saying “once in a blue moon”).^[6]^[7]^[8] A calendrical blue moon (by Pruett's definition) is predictable and relatively common, happening 7 times in every 19 years (i.e. once every 2 or 3 years).^[1]

^ ^a ^b "blue moon, n." Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. September 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
^ Dobrijevic, Daisy (January 13, 2024). "Blue Moon: What is it and when is the next one?". space.com. Retrieved May 4, 2024. A seasonal Blue Moon is the traditional definition of a Blue Moon and refers to the third full moon in a season that has four full moons according to NASA.
^ Hannikainen, Diana (August 29, 2023). "The Moon is "Blue" this Wednesday... Or is it?". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved May 8, 2024. The 1937 Maine Farmer's Almanac reveals the traditional meaning of "Blue Moon."
^ "What is a blue moon? Is the moon ever really blue?". Library of Congress. September 19, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2024. So, 'blue moon' as most of us today know it, is modern American folklore, but with a long interesting history involving calendars and the measuring of the year. Still, no matter what meaning you give it, blue moons are pretty rare, and everyone knows what you mean when you say "once in a blue moon!"
^ "What is a Blue Moon". Sky and Telescope. July 27, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2024. Some three years later, in March 1946, an article entitled "Once in a Blue Moon" appeared in Sky & Telescope (page 3). Its author, James Hugh Pruett (1886-1955), was an amateur astronomer living in Eugene, Oregon, and a frequent contributor to Sky & Telescope. Pruett wrote on a variety of topics, especially fireball meteors. In his article on Blue Moons, he mentioned the 1937 Maine almanac and repeated some of Lafleur's earlier comments. Then he went on to say, "Seven times in 19 years there were — and still are — 13 full moons in a year. This gives 11 months with one full moon each and one with two. This second in a month, so I interpret it, was called Blue Moon."
^ The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, Volume 16. Chicago. 2005. p. 602.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Gibbs, Philip (May 1997). "Why is the sky blue?". math.ucr.edu. Retrieved November 4, 2015. ... may cause the moon to have a blue tinge since the red light has been scattered out.
^ Philip Hiscock (August 24, 2012). "Once in a Blue Moon". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved May 27, 2019.

[oed-1] "blue moon, n." Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. September 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2024.

[2] Dobrijevic, Daisy (January 13, 2024). "Blue Moon: What is it and when is the next one?". space.com. Retrieved May 4, 2024. A seasonal Blue Moon is the traditional definition of a Blue Moon and refers to the third full moon in a season that has four full moons according to NASA.

[s&t2023-3] Hannikainen, Diana (August 29, 2023). "The Moon is "Blue" this Wednesday... Or is it?". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved May 8, 2024. The 1937 Maine Farmer's Almanac reveals the traditional meaning of "Blue Moon."

[4] "What is a blue moon? Is the moon ever really blue?". Library of Congress. September 19, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2024. So, 'blue moon' as most of us today know it, is modern American folklore, but with a long interesting history involving calendars and the measuring of the year. Still, no matter what meaning you give it, blue moons are pretty rare, and everyone knows what you mean when you say "once in a blue moon!"

[s&t2006-5] "What is a Blue Moon". Sky and Telescope. July 27, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2024. Some three years later, in March 1946, an article entitled "Once in a Blue Moon" appeared in Sky & Telescope (page 3). Its author, James Hugh Pruett (1886-1955), was an amateur astronomer living in Eugene, Oregon, and a frequent contributor to Sky & Telescope. Pruett wrote on a variety of topics, especially fireball meteors. In his article on Blue Moons, he mentioned the 1937 Maine almanac and repeated some of Lafleur's earlier comments. Then he went on to say, "Seven times in 19 years there were — and still are — 13 full moons in a year. This gives 11 months with one full moon each and one with two. This second in a month, so I interpret it, was called Blue Moon."

[britannica-6] The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, Volume 16. Chicago. 2005. p. 602.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[7] Gibbs, Philip (May 1997). "Why is the sky blue?". math.ucr.edu. Retrieved November 4, 2015. ... may cause the moon to have a blue tinge since the red light has been scattered out.

[once-8] Philip Hiscock (August 24, 2012). "Once in a Blue Moon". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved May 27, 2019.

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