A blue moon on New Year's Eve!
I have always been fascinated by Blue Moons and their folkloric mystery. The term "Blue Moon" has been around at least since Shakespeare's day, but I wonder if his world was as confused as we are today as to what one is. The original definition was the third full moon in a season that has four full moons. This all changed in 1946 due to an article in Sky & Telescope magazine in which a writer misinterpreted a page in the Farmer's Almanac. This mistake led to the later, easier definition of second full moon in a month. The occurrence is once every two or three years by either definition, but according to the old, third out of four in a season definition, we will have another one in November of 2010. An interesting tidbit: ANY full moon falling on Halloween is a Blue Moon.
I created the Blue Moon Art Altar pictured above in honor of all that is rare and beautiful. Most of the items used in the altar were previously discarded, many from thrift stores. For example, the arch is made from the handle of a wooden back massager.. you know the kind with wheels that you roll like a car on a needy back. The luna bleu tiles are polymer clay. This altar was sold a few months ago to a nice lady in Maine. I hope she lights it up tonight.
Look up tonight and celebrate this sky event along with your New Year's Eve. It's a "two for the price of one" evening.
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