Blue Moon

A blue moon will grace the night sky Friday night (hope I am not too late), giving skywatchers their last chance to observe this celestial phenomenon for nearly three years.

The moon will wax to its full phase at 9:58 a.m. EDT Friday, bringing August's full moon count to two (the first one occurred Aug. 1). Two full moons won't rise in a single month again until July 2015.

But don't expect tonight's full moon to actually appear blue, unless you're peering through a thick haze of volcanic ash or forest fire smoke. "Blue Moon" is not a reference to the satellite's observed color.

The term has long been used to describe rare or absurd happenings. And farmers once employed it to denote the third full moon in a season — spring, summer, autumn or winter — that has four full moons instead of the usual three. 

Poetry is the champagne of life

quote by Karen Tolkkinen

Publisher and Editor of Northwoods Woman magazine

So here's a toast to the Blue Moon evening with a little bubbly and some poetic words

Whispers of the Moon

by Kathleen M. Krueger

The moon looks down and collects the tales of the earth.

Poets and storytellers overhear her

as she whispers them as secrets to the stars.

What A Show

by Sue Ready

He pulled out the chair

and whispered in my ear

“Madam, just for you.”

Scanning the night sky

I settled in with ease

anticipating

quite the show.

The curtain opened

and the ball began

 a slow ascent

into the eastern sky.

Its vibrant golden hue

illuminated the evening

casting shadows

across the ground.

The crowd murmured

and gasped

for an evening show like this

was well worth the wait.

It was then I knew 

the best moon viewing chair

had been saved

just for me. 

Full Moon 

by Michael Spooner

O,

the big

round moon

is a hole

in the sky,

and 

the day

washes through

like the morning tide.

When 

the earth

is full

and it's time

for night.

then the day 

washes out

to the

other side.

Postscript: The full blue moon did not disappoint me tonight. It was a glorious golden hue as it rose up over the lake. The moon's light was reflected in the water. Now this was the time I wish I owned a better camera to fully capture such a sight.  

The time period between two pictures was only 15 minutes.