Joe -
As the daughter of a man who loves the obscure, I know that the Harvest Moon
is actually the moon closest to the autumnal equinox and was curious about
finding a link I could share to give the common names of the other moons. I
did find quite a few links naming the moons, but also stumbled upon a great
article giving the origin of the Blue Moon. The method for determining the
Blue moon actually falls to the Maine Farmers' Almanac. The following is
quoted from
http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/moon/article_127_1.asp

"At last we have the " Maine rule" for Blue Moons: Seasonal Moon names are
assigned near the spring equinox in accordance with the ecclesiastical rules
for determining the dates of Easter and Lent. The beginnings of summer,
fall, and winter are determined by the dynamical mean Sun. When a season
contains four full Moons, the third is called a Blue Moon.

"Why is the third full Moon identified as the extra one in a season with
four? Because only then will the names of the other full Moons, such as the
Moon Before Yule and the Moon After Yule, fall at the proper times relative
to the solstices and equinoxes."

So now I know "the rest of the story."
I chuckle when I think of the obscurity that I "caught" from my father and
wonder what my children are "catching" from me.

Have a great weekend!

Sheri Elliott Harris

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Fjelstad [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 12:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [EN] sense of the senate - NTC


Brian,

You noted the moon turned blue from smoke particles from forest fires in
Canada. It is also reported that when Krakatoa exploded the remnant dust
turned
sunsets green and the moon blue all around the world for almost two years.
I am
sure you know that a blue moon is also when there are two full moons in one
month. Every month has a name for its full moon. September is Harvest moon
and
October is Hunters moon The others are more obscure.

Cheers,
Joe