A blue moon occurs every three years when we experience two full moons in a single month.
Full moons typically occur every 29 days, according NASA’s National Space Science Data Center, but since most months are 30 to 31 days long, it is possible to have two full moons in a month every 2 1/2 to three years.
There was a full moon on July 2 and July 31 will see the second - two very average-colored full moons.
Blue-colored moons do exist, but they only occur “once in a blue moon.”
For a moon to take on a blueish hue, it is typically due to smoke or dust particles in the atmosphere such as during a volcanic eruption or forest fire, according to NASA Science.
In 1883, an Indonesian volcano named Krakatoa exploded and scientists likened the blast to a 100-megaton nuclear bomb. Plumes of smoke rose to the top of the Earth’s atmosphere and the moon turned blue.
Basically, if either a fire or an eruption produces ash or oily smoke containing a significant amount of 1-micron particles, the moon appears blue.
The most recent blue-hued moon was seen in Edinburgh, Scotland in September 1950, caused by ash from forest fires burning in Alberta, Canada.
The modern phrase associated with two full moons in a single month is attributed to a 1946 Sky & Telescope article entitled Once in a Blue Moon by James Hugh Pruett.
Before Pruett wrote his article, a “blue moon” referred to the third blue moon in a season, however, Pruett misinterpreted the information, according to Sky & Telescope, and the 1946 version of the magazine adopted his more modern definition.
A popular radio program, called StarDate, referenced the two full moons in a month definition on Jan. 31, 1980, and it experienced widespread adoption.
So, yes, the lunar experience on Friday is based on a misinterpretation of the original definition of a “blue moon,” neither of which have anything to do with the moon’s color.
Regardless, it’s a good excuse to get outside and view a somewhat-rare occurrence.
The last time we saw two full moons in month was in 2012 and we will not see the event again until 2018.
Copyright 2015 RNN. All rights reserved.
Moon photo by local photographer Jimmy Sisk of Charleston, MO.
United States - Each year on July 31st and December 2nd, National Mutt Day is celebrated across the United States. This day was created as a day to embrace, save and celebrate mixed breed dogs.
Desperately longing for a new home, there are millions of loving and healthy mixed breed dogs, in shelters across the United States, awaiting for someone to come and adopt them.
For more information regarding National Mutt Day, see: http://www.nationalmuttday.com/
CELEBRATE
Visit a dog shelter. If you are unable to adopt a dog, you can always volunteer. Post on social media using #NationalMuttDay and encourage others to join in.
HISTORY
National Mutt Day, an “unofficial” national holiday was created in 2005 by Celebrity Pet Expert and Animal Welfare Advocate, Colleen Paige.
This day is celebrated on both December 2 and July 31 of each year.
Shown in the photo is 11 year-old Grace who lives with Jessica Loflin in Dexter, Missouri. She is half Dachshund and half Beagle, so she is a Deagle! Jessica is the daughter of Dee Loflin.
Lea graduated from Richland High School. She attained an AA in General Education from Three Rivers College and is a graduate of the Barrett School of Banking in Memphis, Tennessee.
Mrs. Jenkins already has six years of general banking experience with the last three years concentrating on Residential Mortgage Lending.
Please stop in and visit with her at 713 W. Business 60 in Dexter or give her a call at (573) 624-5525.
National Parents Day is annually celebrated, in the United States, on the fourth Sunday in July. Similar to a combination of Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, National Parents Day is a day to honor your parents. show appreciation to them and to celebrate family.
To all parents out there………………. Happy Parents Day !
CELEBRATE
Call up your parents, or reminisce about the good time with them. Post on social media using #NationalParentsDay and encourage others to join in.
HISTORY
This holiday was established in 1994 when President Bill Clinton signed a Congressional Resolution into Law for “recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children.”
The bill was introduced by Republican Senator Trent Lott.
Most motorists start to merge as soon as they see warning signs and learn which lane ahead is closed. When the highway is not heavily congested and traffic is able to move at the speed limit, it is best to merge early into the open lane. However, in dense, slow moving traffic, the open lane fills quickly. When a driver in the closed lane can't move into the open lane in time, the closed lane ends forcing the vehicle to suddenly stop. The vehicle must now join traffic from a dead stop. This driving behavior can lead to lane switching, inconsistent driving speeds that cause crashes, long back-ups and road rage.
Research shows these dangers decrease and traffic moves more smoothly when motorists use both lanes until reaching the defined merge area and then alternate merging every other vehicle in "zipper" fashion into the open lane.
By using two full lanes of traffic until the merge, the speed difference is reduced between the two lanes. The length of backups is reduced 40-50 percent. When both lanes continue to move slowly, everyone is equally delayed, which reduces road rage.
Driving Tips for Merging:
With light congestion and traffic moving at the speed, merge out of the closed lane as early as possible.
With heavy congestion and slowed or stopped traffic, use both lanes and merge at the lane closure.
Drivers fill both lanes and take turns merging every other car at the point of the lane closure.
