When the full moon is visible twice is known as “Blue Moon”. July 2, the first full moon of the month was noticed, today again it is a full moon and it is a rarity that the month is having yet another full month. Observing towards the east will help one to take a look of the full moon that will rise at 6.43 pm. The rise time for moon is different for different places. In Delhi it will be visible at 7.01 pm, in Ahmedabad 7.14 pm, in Bhopal 6.54 pm, in Dibrugarh at 5.46 pm, and in Kanyakumari at 6.36 pm.

Every single calendar year comprises of an extra number of around 11 days, owing to the disparity between lunar and solar years. These extra number of days, assemble together and an additional full moon other than the usual 12 ones, can be noticed every two or three years. The last Blue Moon was noticed in August 2012, and the next time it will be noticed will be in January 2018.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) explained that usually when the moon is dangling low, it appears red for the “same reason that sunsets are red.” The atmosphere is filled with aerosols, which are much tinier than the aerosols shot up by volcanoes and these aerosols are the ones that disperse blue light, departing the red behind.

In 1883 at the time when Krakatoa, an Indonesian volcano, exploded. It emitted a large quantity of ashes into the atmosphere, making the moon grasp a cerulean tinge for many years. Post the enormous explosion; the volcanic remains triggered bright red sunsets and the moon to possess a blueish touch. There were also reports of actual blue moons due to monsoon dust and even forest fires that caused the phenomena across Canada in the early 1950s.

People are eagerly waiting to view this spectacular phenomenon. Many astronomers have already set their binoculars to watch this event.

By Premji