‘Blue moon’ delights Boholanos

The “blue moon” briefly seen in Tagbilaran City in Bohol. Photo by Leo Udtohan, Inquirer Visayas

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines—Boholanos living in some parts of the province missed out on Friday night’s full moon, but some residents of Tagbilaran City had a spectacular view of the “blue moon” as it lit up the sky briefly.

Wet and cloudy weather was to blame in Visayas region, where the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the blue moon began at 6:45 p.m.
Tagbilaran was also predicted to miss out due to bad weather, but the moon was pictured revealing itself through rain clouds for some minutes before it disappeared.
Like other sky-gazers, Glendon Villagonzalo, 14, a Grade 8 student of Cogon High School, enjoyed the unusually brief blue moon.
“I thought I could not see the moon because of the bad weather but I am very happy I got a glimpse of it,” said Villagonzalo.
Joshua Galleros, 16, a Grade 6 pupil of Booy South Elementary School in Tagbilaran missed the celestial phenomenon. He went outside to see the moon was covered with clouds.
Blue moons aren’t actually blue, but they are as rare as the saying goes.
Each month has one full moon. But, every once in a while the cycle of the moon and our calendar match up to give us two full moons in a month. The second full moon in a month is commonly referred to as a blue moon—this July, the first full moon was on July 2, and the second full moon is on July 31.
The famous phrase “once in a blue moon” means rare or seldom.  It’s not because of the color of the moon, but because of how often you see two full moons in one month, according to Nasa’s National Space Science and Data Center.
The next blue moon will be in January 2018.