If you caught Friday night's Blue Moon and expected to see some color, you may feel a little blue with disappointment. But the lack of actual blue in the celestial event doesn't make it less impressive, star-gazing enthusiasts said.
Friday marked the end of August, the start of the Labor Day weekend and the appearance of a blue moon for the last time until 2015.
Friday's full moon was called a “blue moon” because it is the second full moon in a month, according to EarthSky, which mentions other definitions of the term.
“It’s very rare that you would see a blue-colored moon, although unusual sky conditions – certain-sized particles of dust or smoke – can create them,” EarthSky notes.
And the phrase "once in a blue moon" may also be a bit misleading, as blue moons are not exactly rare, appearing on average every 2.7 years.
So maybe you didn't see a blue-colored moon Friday, but a full moon can still be quite stunning and gazing at one is a pretty nice way to end the summer, especially with the warm weather we’ve been having.
Reza Gostar also contributed to this piece.
