Blue Moon Phenomenon

The night sky will be back this evening show a unique phenomenon. If lucky, you can see the blue moon phenomenon, Friday night, August 31, 2012.

Space.com call this phenomenon occurs once every 2.7 years. Because this event will take place shortly after the death of Neil Armstrong, the blue moon will be their last respects to that U.S. astronaut. In the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon, followed by his colleague, Buzz Aldrin.

The last time, 'blue moon' that appeared in March 2010, or exactly 30 months ago. Regarding the blue color that occurs in the moon, it's because of dust in the atmosphere blocking the view color to the moon. Even after Krakatoa erupted in 1883, the rest of the dust cause the color of the moon is blue for two years.

But the appearance of blue moon calculation itself does not refer to the color, it refers to two full moon in a month. Or there is a count based on the third full moon of the fourth full moon that occurs in one season.

Definition of 'blue moon' in the field of astronomy itself first appeared in 1946. At that time, astronomical observer James Pruett read a phrase in the Maine Farmers' Almanac. Month was defined as the third full moon in a season of four full moon that exist. Pruett misinterpretation as two full moon in a month.

But there's another note about the term blue moon, to refer to something that is a rare but considered correct. To quote from the Guardian, the term refers to a religious deed in in 1524, which mentions: "If they say the moon is belewe. We must believe that is true".

Because of that many are calling the incident a "belewe moon".