Rarest Blue Moon

While most of us have long thought that the term "blue moon" referred to a second full moon that occurs within a calendar month, the term "blue moon" actually means something else. On Nov. 21, Summit and the rest of the country will experience the rarity of a blue moon in its true meaning.

When there are four full moons in a single season, the third one is referred to as a blue moon, as first established by The Farmer's Almanac. While the blue moon is going to light the night sky on Nov. 21, the fourth full moon of the fall season will occur on Dec. 21.

Sky and Telescope reported that the reason why the third mood gets the distinctive title of "blue moon" is because "only then will the names of the other full moons, such as the Moon Before Yule and the Moon After Yule, fall at the proper times relative to the solstices and equinoxes.

While this is a neat phenomena, keep in mind that there is no special reason to watch the night sky on Nov. 21, other than your reasons for watching it on any other full moon night. "Blue moon" is an astronomical term, not a description for the appearance of the moon.

The next seasonal blue moon will not happen until 2013.