An Extra Special New Year's Eve

The night before the beginning of a New Year is always special. However, tonight is even more so, as the skies will be lit up by a full moon - the 13th one of the year and the second one this month - An event that occurs so rarely that it is called a 'Blue' moon.

As you probably know, we normally see one full moon a month - that's because it takes the moon 29.5 days to go through its phases; approximately the same as our calender month of 30 or 31 days. However, our calender year is based on the time it takes the Earth to circle around the sun. Therefore the 'extra' days from the lunar cycle accumulate and once every two and a half years, we end up with a month that gets to have two 'full' moons.

While that is special, it is very rare for the second full moon to occur on New Year's Eve (In Australia and Asia, it will be New Year's Day). It last happened in 1990 and is not expected to happen again until 2028! If that isn't enough, the residents of Europe and Asia will also be treated to a partial eclipse, as the moon moves through the Earth's shadow or Umbra.

So wherever you are, be sure to gaze up and appreciate the beautiful big moon in the skies tonight and make a wish - For on this 'Once in a Blue Moon' occasion, it is sure to come true!

Happy New Year !

sources:science.nasa.gov, dailymail.co.uk, nationalgeographic.com