Due to the pandemic, trick or treating may look a little different this year but we are in for a spectacular and spooky sight in the sky on Halloween night. A Blue Moon will appear and will be visible to the entire world. The world has not viewed this amazing phenomenon together since World War II (that is the year 1944, folks). And yes, we can all say, wow, finally there is something to look forward to!
Now, don’t be disappointed if you are looking for that colorful Blue Moon; the definition of a Blue Moon has nothing to do with the moon resembling the color blue. The term “blue moon” has to do with the enormous mathematical odds. You have all heard the common phrase “once in a blue moon”—well, it really does describe the rarity of this event happening.
For today’s lesson, we are going to be learning all about the Blue Moon. Take notes if you need to, you don’t want to miss it!
First, the definition of the Blue Moon according to Merriam-Webster:
- A very long period of time
- A second full moon in a calendar month
Since we have already covered the first part of the definition, lets talk about the second part.
The Blue Moon is a second full moon in a calendar month. The first full moon in a month is called the Harvest Moon (cue Neil Young). The Harvest Moon if you were lucky enough to see it occurred on October 1, 2020.
Ok, back to the Blue Moon. They have referred to this specific moon as “Hunter’s Moon” because hunters used moonlight to hunt for prey and prepare for the winter. Blue Moons don’t happen often. In fact, Blue Moons only happen about once every two and a half years. But this special Halloween Blue Moon hasn’t appeared in 19 years and what it is even more rare is that it hasn’t been seen across all the time zones since 1944, according to The Old Farmers’ Almanac. That’s 76 years if we are doing the math correctly. The next time there will be a blue moon on Halloween will be in 2039.
The full Halloween moon will rise at 10:49 a.m. EST, which explains why it’ll be visible across the time zones. Speaking of time zones, don’t forget to set your clocks back, it’s the last day of Daylight-Saving time. Why can’t we stay the same time all year? Well, that’s a whole different story. So, pajamas at 5pm it is, or in COVID times, pajamas all day.
So, what color will this moon be? Good question. The Blue Moon will take on very different colors such as bright oranges and reds when it’s near the horizon, similar to when the sky turns to vibrant colors because the sun is near the horizon. In rare and unrelated circumstances, smoke or dust particles in the atmosphere could make the moon appear blueish. Either way, those who are trick or treating will have a bright glow in the sky to guide them away from the ghosts and goblins. Super spooky.
To throw another curveball, according to Newsweek, a 200 foot-wide asteroid will fly past the Earth as the Blue Moon occurs. This space rock dubbed 2020 UX3 will not have any chance of striking the Earth according to scientists at NASA; dare I say the unrelentless 2020 is turning a corner? I hope so.
If you are into astrology, this Halloween Blue Moon will prove to be an exciting one and with the Harvest Moon, it will double the energy. We do have to remember we are in the middle of a pandemic plus a Mercury retrograde, so it does diminish a little energy but pay close attention to your sign. This Halloween Blue Moon will bring lots of surprises to these four signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.
Now, this brings us to our company, Blue Moon Digital, Inc. And yes, our company is named after this amazing spectacle, the Blue Moon.
Cindy Brown, our fearless leader, gave the company its renowned name and it goes back to her childhood.
“The moon has always had an impact on my life. When I was a little girl, my father would take me out to the backyard on a full moon night and point out how the moon lit everything up. I loved that I could look right at the moon, I loved how it was different colors at different times, and sometimes it was so huge that it took your breath away. When my father had to go to Vietnam, he told me that we were still sleeping under the same moon. And it truly comforted me. And a Blue Moon is extra special. I wanted our company name to have a special meaning and love that we are Blue Moon Digital.”
At our office, we have a special blue moon made of glass with an inscription that reads:
A Blue Moon is the second full moon in a month.
It is a rare and magical event when great possibilities come to life.
So this Saturday, October 31st, whether you are out with the tots enjoying some trick or treating or watching your favorite horror flick, don’t forget to look up to see this magical moon. You do not want to miss it. It will light up the sky and remember that nearly everyone in the world will see it too! The Halloween Blue Moon will not make another appearance till 2039. And to echo that very notorious phrase, it is “once in a blue moon.”
Happy Blue Moon Halloween Everyone!
