Once in a... Image: different2une/Flickr.If you have anything ridiculously ambitious or wondrously farfetched you’d like to achieve in life, then we’d strongly suggest aiming to achieve such goals this coming New Year’s Eve – a date on the calendar expected to be marked by a distinct ‘blue moon’.
Beyond the obvious ‘once in a lifetime’ adage, stargazing astronomers have revealed that 2010 will be ushered in alongside a genuine blue moon, which, while not nearly as rare as you may think (usually about once every 30 months), will be the first to illuminate the night sky on New Year’s Eve since 1990.
According to astronomer David Reneke of Australasian Science magazine, the next New Year’s Eve blue moon isn’t likely to happen until 2028.
While those late-night revellers situated away from heavy populated areas are expected to bask in the glow of a blue moon on December 31, Reneke warned that those in cities and other heavily built up areas may actually see something of a red moon – largely due to the filtering effect caused by smoke from New Year fireworks.
The moon’s uncharacteristic ‘blue’ hue is often attributed to viewing the orbiting satellite through dust in the planet’s atmosphere, usually caused by major forest fires or serious volcanic eruptions.
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