July 22, 2004
Astronomy Note for July
Once in a Blue Moon...
There would be three meteor showers visible next week (Two on the 27th---one in Pisces, one in Aquarius---and one on the 29th, in Capricorn.) BUT they will be glared out by a once-in-a-Blue-Moon event. Actually, they will be glared out by a true "Blue Moon"!
Our full moon of the 31st is the second full moon of this month, which is defined (only since 1980, when a mistake made in 1947 was made legit,) as a Blue Moon. The first full moon of July was on the 2nd of July.
Traditional name for the usually one full moon of July are the "Hay Moon" (mostly European) and the "Thunder Moon" (mostly North American).