As many of you probably already know, the idiom ‘once in a blue moon’ is used when we want to describe something which does not happen very often. There are a lot of other cases when we encounter this ‘mysterious blue moon’, but, do we know what it actually is? Its meaning is as mesmerizing as it sounds!
What Does ‘Blue Moon’ Mean?
Though there are a couple of definitions of a blue moon, the most common one is that this is a second full moon which happens during one month in the year. Averagely speaking, this coincidental event takes place every 2.7 years. One is happening today, on the 31st of January, 2018 whereas another one is expected in March, 2018.
Furthermore, on this day, the moon will also be blood and super moon, which is a real trinity of spacial glory. Without doubt, 3 lunar phenomena at once are worth observing. This blue blood moon is the first one in 150 years!
Will the Moon Be Actually Blue?
The color blue has no association with this event and the moon will look just like any other full moon, i.e. big, bright, and astonishing. Nonetheless, a literal blue moon is not impossible to see. Namely, in the 1800s, blue moons were appearing very frequently and in 1883, due to the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia, the sunsets were tinged with a green color and the moon was flushed in blue. The natural disaster triggered a change in the color of the sky and half of the world could see it. The ash and particles in the sky were the main reason for the chemical reaction in the atmosphere which led to the color shift. Another example is from the 50s when the ashes from a forest fire in Canada filled the sky and people as far away as Britain saw a blue moon.
Calendrical vs. Astrological Blue Moon
The blue moon on this day does not have astrological influence because it is calendrical rather than astrological. A calendrical blue moon takes place a second time in a month, an astrological blue moon occurs a second time during a solar month or the period of time during which the sun passes through one zodiac sign. An astrological blue moon is expected to happen on the 19th of April, 2019. This blue moon will magnify the characteristics of Aries and we may become more childlike, energetic, impulsive, and competitive. Additionally, the energy of the sign through which the moon is passing will be Libra and as a result, our inner world will be more balanced, graceful, and beautiful and some of us may be prompted to be more engaged in making others happier.