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Blue Moon Rising: See Two Full Moons in August

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Nearly full moon photographed by space station astronauts
Inspired by the nearly-full moon, space station astronauts used an 800 mm lens to study the craters and mare in this picture taken on Oct. 5, 2001. (Image credit: NASA)

In late August, anyone with clear skies will be able to see a blue moon shining brightly above the horizon.

Of course, the moon doesn't actually appear blue in this event, it's merely the term for the second full moon that occurs in the course of a single month.

In New Zealand and Russia's Kamchatka region, however, that second full moon will actually occur after midnight on Sept. 1, so they'll have to wait until the next full moon on Sept. 30 for their blue moon.

A blue moon appears the same in the sky as any other full moon, but the moon can appear to be colored under particular atmospheric conditions.

Forest fires and volcanic eruptions can pump smoke and ash into the atmosphere, which can make the moon appear a bluish hue to those standing on the Earth's surface. The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo ejected more than 1 cubic mile (5 cubic kilometers) of material into the air and created blue-colored moons from several perspectives around the globe.

For more skywatching information, check out sister site SPACE.com's Night Sky page.

Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.