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Blue Moon ahead!

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August 19, 2013

Image credit: VegaStar Carpentier. Thank you!

And remember it’s a “seasonal” Blue Moon … the third of four full moons in a season, coming up on the night of August 20-21.

So maybe you’re saying, “But I thought a Blue Moon was the second full moon of a month.”

Yes, it is. The name Blue Moon is part of folklore. Like all folklore, there are alternate versions of the story.

A Blue Moon can be the second of two full moons of a calendar month. Or a Blue Moon can be the third of four full moons in a season. The upcoming Blue Moon is the seasonal kind. A “season” in this case is between the June solstice and September equinox.Here’s more.

Thank you to EarthSky Facebook friend VegaStar Carpentier for this image!

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August 19, 2013

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Eleanor Imster

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About the Author:

Eleanor Imster has helped write and edit EarthSky since 1995. She was an integral part of the award-winning EarthSky radio series almost since it began until it ended in 2013. She and her husband live in Tennessee, where they enjoy guitar playing and singing. They have 2 grown sons.