Olson, along with research librarian Margaret Vaverek at Texas State University, worked with the magazine’s editors at the time to figure out the origin of the mistake, and how the two-full-Moons-in-a-month meaning spread into the English language.īy either definition, Blue Moons are still relatively rare. Sky & Telescope admitted to its “Blue Moon blooper” in the March 1999 issue (see “ What Is a Blue Moon in Astronomy?”). “Introducing the ‘Blue’ Moon meant that the traditional full Moon names, such as the Wolf Moon and Harvest Moon, stayed in synch with their season,” says Diana Hannikainen (pronounced HUHN-ih-KY-nen), Sky & Telescope’s Observing Editor.īut in 1946, amateur astronomer and frequent contributor to Sky & Telescope James Hugh Pruett (1886–1955) incorrectly interpreted the Almanac’s description, and the second-full-Moon-in-a-month usage was born. he Almanac consistently used the term to refer to the third full Moon in a season containing four (rather than the usual three). This colorful term is actually a calendrical goof that worked its way into the pages of Sky & Telescope in March 1946 and spread around the world from there.Įditors and contributors to Sky & Telescope have traced the traditional astronomical definition to the Maine Farmers’ Almanac in the late 1930s. In modern usage, “Blue Moon” has come to refer to the second full Moon in a month (the last of these occurred on October 31, 2020) - but that hasn’t always been the case. The full Moon of Sunday, August 22nd, will be a “Blue Moon” according to the original - but not the most popular - definition of the phrase. Note to Editors/Producers: This release is accompanied by high-quality graphics see the end of this release for the images and links to download. Rick Fienberg, Press Officer, American Astronomical Society Diana Hannikainen, Observing Editor, Sky & Telescope
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