A rare blue moon to light up US skies on Halloween night

Oct 19 2020, 6:02 pm

The term “once in a blue moon” is actually happening this year, because of course it is.

As if 2020 hasn’t been peculiar enough, Americans are getting a rare blue full moon on Halloween for the first time in almost 20 years.

Every month has a full moon, but the end of October will be illuminated with its second of the month ā€” a blue moon, the first visible across North American skies since March 2018.

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the moon won’t actually appear blue on Halloween; rather, it’s the name given whenĀ two full moons appear in a single month (which happens on average every two to three years).

Despite not looking blue, aĀ full moon on Halloween occurs roughly once every 19 years ā€” a pattern known as the Metonic Cycle, so we’ll still get hit with something quite uncommon.

As per the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Halloween Hunterā€™s Blue Moon will turn full at 10:49 am ET on October 31.

According to astronomers, the next “100% illuminated Halloween full Moon” will occur in the years 2039, 2058, 2077, and 2096, so you might want to take advantage of this year’s rare photo opp and literal “once in a blue moon.”

Ty JadahTy Jadah

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