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--Boundary_(ID_rZb+yHTbpksGI8b8T3IXeQ) Content-type: text/plain; CHARSET=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Thanks, Roy! and I will indeed post this to the list. Cheers from Jim Begin forwarded message: > From: Roy Bishop <roy@xcountry.tv> > Date: November 5, 2009 11:26:18 AM AST > To: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> > Cc: The Halifax RASC Discussion List <hfxrasc@lists.rasc.ca>, > Terence Dickinson <arcturus@istar.ca> > Subject: Re: New Year's Eve Blue Moon > > Hi Jim, > > Thanks for forwarding the "Blue Moon" item. > > Two full Moons in a month is quite common, as to be expected > because the average length of a month (30.4 days) is longer than > the lunar phase cycle (29.5 days). It happens about every three years. > > A full Moon on New Year's Eve occurs every 19 years (1971, 1990, > 2009, 2028, . . .), so it is uncommon, but not "extremely rare". It > is the SECOND full Moon in December for the reason mentioned above. > The 19-year period exists because 235 lunar phase cycles equals 19 > years, to a precision of a few hours. That interval is called the > "Metonic Cycle" after Meton, an astronomer in ancient Greece who > discovered the coincidence, although it was known centuries earlier > in Babylon. > > Hans Toom is correct: "The common modern definition of a blue moon > is the second full moon in any given month." However, this > definition has no historical or astronomical significance, and > there is nothing "blue" about it. It is an aberration resulting > from an error made a few decades ago. (See Terence Dickinson's "The > Origin of the Bogus Blue Moon" in the current issue of SkyNews.) > > The "zero" significance of the modern definition of a Blue Moon is > highlighted by the 6th full Moon of 2007. That full Moon occurred > at 01:05 a.m. June 1 in England, and 10:05 p.m. May 31 in Nova > Scotia. So, by the modern definition, that full Moon was a "Blue > Moon" for Canada (being the second full Moon in May), but not for > England. A few weeks later, the 7th full Moon of 2007 (on June 30) > was a "Blue Moon" for England but not for Canada. So much for the > modern definition. > > True Blue Moons, the origin of the old term "Once in a Blue Moon", > are far less common. They are literally blue, and have no > connection with the calendar. I saw one in the 1950s, caused by > smoke from forest fires in western Canada. Usually a hazy > atmosphere scatters blue light, producing orange moonrises and red > sunsets; but depending upon the nature of the haze particles, the > blue end of the spectrum can survive. > > (You may post my reply on the Nature NS list.) > > Roy > > > On 2-Nov-09, at 4:57 p.m., Jim Wolford wrote: > >> >> >> Begin forwarded message: >> >>> From: Hans Toom <Htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca> >>> Date: November 2, 2009 9:04:15 AM AST >>> To: "Naturens@Chebucto.Ns.Ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> >>> Subject: [NatureNS] New Year's Eve Blue Moon >>> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca >>> >>> This new year's eve, December 31, we will have a blue moon to >>> celebrate the new year with. The common modern definition of a >>> blue moon is the second full moon in any given month. The first >>> full moon of December will fall on December 2. Although blue >>> moons are not that uncommon one falling on a particular day, say >>> New Year's Eve, must be extremely rare. I hope for clear skies >>> that night to capture that rare event with my camera. I was >>> unable to find a blue moon calculator that predicts on the basis >>> of day of the year so who knows when the next one will be. >>> Perhaps our RASC members can provide an answer. >>> >>> I've posted my October photographic highlights leading off with >>> three edits of our recent moon. >>> >>> Hans >>> >>> http://www.hanstoom.com/Highlights/October09/0159.html >>> _________________________________ >>> Hans Toom >>> Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada >>> Website: http://hanstoom.com >>> _________________________________ >> > --Boundary_(ID_rZb+yHTbpksGI8b8T3IXeQ) Content-type: text/html; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable <html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; = -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "> Thanks, Roy! and I will indeed post this to the list. Cheers = from Jim<br><div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div = style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; = margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>From: = </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px = Helvetica">Roy Bishop <<a = href=3D"mailto:roy@xcountry.tv">roy@xcountry.tv</a>></font></div><div = style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; = margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Date: = </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px = Helvetica">November 5, 2009 11:26:18 AM AST</font></div><div = style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; = margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>To: </b></font><font = face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">"James W. = Wolford" <<a = href=3D"mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca">jimwolford@eastlink.ca</a>></fon= t></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: = 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" = color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: = #000000"><b>Cc: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">The Halifax RASC Discussion List <<a = href=3D"mailto:hfxrasc@lists.rasc.ca">hfxrasc@lists.rasc.ca</a>>, = Terence Dickinson <<a = href=3D"mailto:arcturus@istar.ca">arcturus@istar.ca</a>></font></div><d= iv style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; = margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Subject: = </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px = Helvetica"><b>Re: New Year's Eve Blue Moon</b></font></div><div = style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; = margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div> Hi = Jim,<div><br></div><div>Thanks for forwarding the "Blue Moon" = item.</div><div><br></div><div>Two full Moons in a month is quite = common, as to be expected because the average length of a month (30.4 = days) is longer than the lunar phase cycle (29.5 days). It happens about = every three years.<br><div><br></div><div>A full Moon on New Year's Eve = occurs every 19 years (1971, 1990, 2009, 2028, . . .), so it is = uncommon, but not "extremely rare". It is the SECOND full Moon in = December for the reason mentioned above. The 19-year period exists = because 235 lunar phase cycles equals 19 years, to a precision of a few = hours. That interval is called the "Metonic Cycle" after Meton, an = astronomer in ancient Greece who discovered the coincidence, although it = was known centuries earlier in Babylon.</div><div><br></div><div>Hans = Toom is correct: "The common modern definition of a blue moon is = the second full moon in any given month." However, this definition = has no historical or astronomical significance, and there is nothing = "blue" about it. It is an aberration resulting from an error made a = few decades ago. (See Terence Dickinson's "The Origin of the Bogus = Blue Moon" in the current issue of = SkyNews.)</div><div><br></div><div>The "zero" significance of the modern = definition of a Blue Moon is highlighted by the 6th full Moon of 2007. = That full Moon occurred at 01:05 a.m. June 1 in England, and 10:05 p.m. = May 31 in Nova Scotia. So, by the modern definition, that full Moon was = a "Blue Moon" for Canada (being the second full Moon in May), but not = for England. A few weeks later, the 7th full Moon of 2007 (on June 30) = was a "Blue Moon" for England but not for Canada. So much for = the modern definition. </div><div><br></div><div>True Blue Moons, = the origin of the old term "Once in a Blue Moon", are far less common. = They are literally blue, and have no connection with the calendar. I saw = one in the 1950s, caused by smoke from forest fires in western Canada. = Usually a hazy atmosphere scatters blue light, producing orange = moonrises and red sunsets; but depending upon the nature of the haze = particles, the blue end of the spectrum can = survive.</div><div><br></div><div>(You may post my reply on the Nature = NS = list.)</div><div><br></div><div>Roy</div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div= >On 2-Nov-09, at 4:57 p.m., Jim Wolford wrote:</div><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"> = <br><div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div = style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; = margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>From: = </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px = Helvetica">Hans Toom <<a = href=3D"mailto:Htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca">Htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca</a>></font>= </div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: = 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" = color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: = #000000"><b>Date: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">November 2, 2009 9:04:15 AM = AST</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; = margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" = size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: = #000000"><b>To: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">"<a = href=3D"mailto:Naturens@Chebucto.Ns.Ca">Naturens@Chebucto.Ns.Ca</a>" = <<a = href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a>></f= ont></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; = margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" = size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: = #000000"><b>Subject: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>[NatureNS] New Year's Eve Blue = Moon</b></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; = margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" = size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: = #000000"><b>Reply-To: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" = style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a = href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a></font>= </div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: = 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div> <span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: = rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; font-style: = normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: = normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: = 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: = 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div><font size=3D"2" = face=3D"Arial">This new year's eve, December 31, we will have a blue = moon to celebrate the new year with. The common<span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><em>modern</em><span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>definition of a blue moon = is the second full moon in any given month. The first full moon of = December will fall on December 2. Although blue moons are not that = uncommon one falling on a particular day, say New Year's Eve, must be = extremely rare. I hope for clear skies that night to capture that = rare event with my camera. I was unable to find a blue moon = calculator that predicts on the basis of day of the year so who knows = when the next one will be. Perhaps our RASC members can provide an = answer.</font></div><div><font size=3D"2" = face=3D"Arial"></font> </div><div><font size=3D"2" = face=3D"Arial">I've posted my October photographic highlights leading = off with three edits of our recent moon.</font></div><div><font size=3D"2"= face=3D"Arial"></font> </div><div><font size=3D"2" = face=3D"Arial">Hans</font></div><div><font size=3D"2" = face=3D"Arial"></font> </div><div><font size=3D"2" face=3D"Arial"><a = href=3D"http://www.hanstoom.com/Highlights/October09/0159.html">http://www= .hanstoom.com/Highlights/October09/0159.html</a></font></div><div><font = size=3D"2" face=3D"Arial">_________________________________<br>Hans = Toom<br>Portuguese Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada<br>Website:<span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a = href=3D"http://hanstoom.com">http://hanstoom.com</a><span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>_________________________= ________</font></div></span></blockquote></div><br></blockquote></div><br>= </div></div></blockquote></div><br></body></html>= --Boundary_(ID_rZb+yHTbpksGI8b8T3IXeQ)--
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