Once in a Blue Moon

On July 31, 2015, photographer Luke Taylor captured time-lapse photos of the rise of a full Blue Moon. These photos were taken 2-1/2 miles away from Cape Byron Lighthouse on Belongil Beach, Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Taylor compiled these 1038 photos into a video, seen below, that have been slowed down so they can be viewed as close to real time as possible.

 

 

At the WalkEZStore, we hope you agree that this video is probably the most beautiful, time-lapse Blue Moon rise you’ll ever see.

What Is a Blue Moon?

The phrase “Once in a Blue Moon” refers to something that occurs seldomly, because a Blue Moon is a rare astronomical phenomenon. A Blue Moon is said to happen when an additional full moon appears within a given time period. Just how rare a Blue Moon is, depends on the definition used.

Definition 1 – Seasonal Blue Moon

The first definition for a Blue Moon refers to the occurrence of the third full moon in a season that already has four full moons. Normally, the moon is full 12 times a year – three times during each season. However, occasionally, a year will have 13 full moons. That means that one season will have four full moons instead of three.

Because of traditional or religious reasons, some of these full moons must happen at a certain time of the year. For example, in Christianity, the last seasonal full moon during winter is called the Lenten Moon. Or, the first seasonal full moon of spring is known as the Paschal Moon.

Therefore, in a particular season, if it has four moons, the third full moon is called a Blue Moon. This enables the other full moons that occur after the Blue Moon to fall during their proper seasonal times of the year.

Definition 2 – Monthly Blue Moon

The second definition of a Blue Moon refers to the occurrence of a second full moon within a single calendar month. This definition is actually a misinterpretation of the seasonal Blue Moon. In 1946, a writer and amateur astronomer incorrectly referred to a Blue Moon as the second full moon occurring within a month. Eventually, the monthly Blue Moon definition gained widespread public use when a nationally syndicated radio program frequently used this definition in 1980.

Today, both definitions are acceptable. So take your pick on which one you want to use.

Is a Blue Moon Actually Blue?

The term “Blue Moon” doesn’t have anything to do with the color of the moon. Typically, Blue Moons are the same gray and white color of a normal moon.

However, in some rare instances, the moon can appear to be blue. This blue tint can occur when Earth’s atmosphere contains lots of dust and smoke particles from volcano eruptions or huge wildfires. These dust and smoke particles enable blue light to pass more easily through the atmosphere, causing the moon to look like it’s blue in color.

Pain Relief with WalkEZStore Custom Orthotics

Whether you have lower extremity pain often or “Once in a Blue Moon,” it’s a good idea to have your gait analyzed by a foot professional like Kathy Carandang, a certified pedorthist and the founder of the WalkEZStore. Depending on whether you have a high, normal or flat arches, or if you over-pronate or over-supinate when you walk, you can experience problems with the way you walk that can cause a ripple effect of issues throughout your whole body, resulting in pain. Kathy can help you identify these problem areas and explain how ezWalker® Custom Fit Orthotics can help bio-mechanically realign your body from the feet up for greater pain relief and improvement of overall conditions.

Here are 3 steps you can take to educate yourself about your feet and improve how you walk:

1. Visit WalkEZStore.com for more information about common foot conditions and other health-related topics.
2. Download your FREE copy of our guides – “10 Things Your Feet Are Desperately Trying to Tell You,” “The Brannock Guide to Foot Measurement,” and “Simple Foot Exercises Can Make a Big Difference.”
3. Schedule an appointment with Kathy Carandang to discuss your specific foot and lower extremity issues. Or, visit our online store to order your pair of ezWalker® Performance Custom Orthotics.

Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good.®

Disclaimer: The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Cover photo credit: 123RF / Daniel Krol