Re: Blue Moon
There was more about the blue moon as two full moons in the same month (incidentally it happens again this month). It was suggested that it was a reference to the practice of printers of diaries who thought it necessary to distinguish between the two full moons in the month by printing their full moon symbol on the appropriate days (nights?) in different colours, the extra one being blue. I think this is a load of tosh, but . Anyway, a whole month without any full moon at all, as last month, is much more interesting. Richard Crossley. Dept. of Physics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, England. E
Re: Blue Moon
Richard, There was more about the blue moon as two full moons in the same month (incidentally it happens again this month). It was suggested that it was a reference to the practice of printers of diaries who thought it necessary to distinguish between the two full moons in the month by printing their full moon symbol on the appropriate days (nights?) in different colours, the extra one being blue. I think this is a load of tosh, but . It does seem a lot of trouble to go to for what must be obvious. Anyway, a whole month without any full moon at all, as last month, is much more interesting. There has to be a name for this! If not, let it be known that henceforth it shall be - 'a blank moon(th)'. Wow - we've made history! :-) Tony Moss
Re: Blue Moon
The moon (and sun) can appear blue (or green) due to dust particles in the atmosphere following large volcanic explosions. Smoke from forest fires can produce a similar effect. Smoke from forest fires in Canada can reach Europe. One such fire in September 1950 produced smoke that caused blue moons to be seen in Europe. Tony, how old are you? Could this have been your event? -- Richard Langley Professor of Geodesy and Precision Navigation P.S. Source of info: The Stars Belong to Everyone by Prof. Helen Sawyer Hogg (a famous and much-loved Canadian astronomer (she passed away in 1993 at age 87). On Sat, 30 Jan 1999, Tony Moss wrote: Fellow Shadow Watchers, As a child I remember running into the house to say that the full moon looked blue in colour. Everyone laughed although nobody went outside to look for themselves. As I recall this was confirmed as a rare occurrence on the radio the following day much to my parents' surprise. Ever since then I've assumed that this was the origin of the saying 'once in a blue moon'. On TV yesterday I heard that we are about to witness a 'blue moon', explained as the rare occurrence of two full moons within one calendar month - nothing to do with colour at all. Was my experience just a childhood fantasy? Tony Moss === Richard B. LangleyE-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geodetic Research Laboratory Web: http://www.unb.ca/GGE/ Dept. of Geodesy and Geomatics EngineeringPhone:+1 506 453-5142 University of New Brunswick Fax: +1 506 453-4943 Fredericton, N.B., Canada E3B 5A3 Fredericton? Where's that? See: http://www.city.fredericton.nb.ca/ ===
Re: Blue Moon
Richard. One such fire in September 1950 produced smoke that caused blue moons to be seen in Europe. Tony, how old are you? Could this have been your event? -- Richard Langley Professor of Geodesy and Precision Navigation P.S. Source of info: The Stars Belong to Everyone by Prof. Helen Sawyer Hogg (a famous and much-loved Canadian astronomer (she passed away in 1993 at age 87). I was 12 years old in 1950 and consequently this rings a very loud bell. Without a doubt this was the blue moon I saw. - an explanation! - after all these years! Sincere thanks to you and the memory of the late Prof. Helen Sawyer Hogg. Tony Moss
