August 31, 2012 Blue Moon
has coincided with Neil Armstrong's Memorial Service
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| The blue moon over New Mexico Photo: UFOsAlienLife/Twitter |
Pretty auspicious timing: there was a blue moon for the first time in over two years. And as it happened, the memorial service for astronaut Neil Armstrong took place. Armstrong was the first human being to set foot on the moon. He died August 25, at the age of 82, as mentioned on the previous post. Of course, the name 'blue moon' is a little misleading: our moon didn't colour that friday night. A blue moon is 'the second full moon in a month with two of them,' according to Space.com. For folklore, the second moon in a month is blue, which is where the name comes from. On other occasions the moon can actually take on a blue colouring but these are the result of ash spewed into the sky by volcanoes. The phrase 'once in a blue moon' usually refers to something really rare, but blue moons aren't that unusual - they take place an average of once every 2.7 years. Sometimes there are even two in one year (it happened in 1999).
Even though the moon looked as grey as usual that evening, it's kind of nice to think that our best-known satellite was feeling a little blue in sympathy for Neil Armstrong's family and friends. In a statement released after his death, his family had a suggestion for people who want to pay tribute to him: 'For those who may ask what they can do to honour Neil, we have a simple request. Honour his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.'
In, www.cbc.ca.com
(abridged and slightly adapted)
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and take a look at THIS photo gallery of Aug. 31 Blue Moon
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