Depending on whether we're listening to astronomers or folklore, a blue moon is the third of four full moons within one season, or it can be the second full moon within one calendar month. We had a full moon on August 1 and now again on August 31, fulfilling the latter definition of a blue moon.
We're told that this event has nothing to do with the colour blue. The moon shows its usual silvery or yellow face while shining down upon us. Only in very rare circumstances would dust particles allow its surface to appear blue, but of course, that can happen at any time and not necessarily when the moon is full. So a blue moon is generally not at all blue.
Except for this one.
I took my camera out to see what I could photograph, and caught sight of the blue moon rather early in the day - before darkness had fallen.
There was no denying that its hue was blue. Not a vague misty blue but a deep, rich, cyan sort of blue. I couldn't believe my eyes. I raised the camera, aimed carefully, focused and shot image after image of a brilliant blue moon.
When an event like this presents itself, it's like magic. It was all I could do to keep my hands from shaking so that I could capture the image of the vibrant, blue moon before me.
I have posted the sharpest photo of the bunch below. I promise you - this is practically straight out of the camera and has not been altered colour-wise. It was simply cropped and sharpened slightly.
I hope you enjoy my photo of the blue moon.
Okay, so I'm messing with you. I told the truth above but what I didn't share was that this discarded stuffed toy was seen at the bottom of the dam at my local pond about a week ago. With it's bum up in the air, I could not resist posting it as a representative of yesterday's blue moon.
My real image of yesterday's event appears below.
Rest in peace, Neil Armstrong. You were the first to set foot on this beautiful orb. I do believe this blue moon is for you.
