Re: RC: Blue moon ride!

[Trishmare@aol.com]

Hi Maggie,

<< Hi Ridecampers,
 Anybody else out there take advantage of the "once in a blue moon"
 opportunity to ride last night?  We did and it was a marvel!  The horses
 absolutely loved it, too and I figure it's good training for the faraway
 day when we try a 100!!  :)
 Maggie
 Michigan >>

      Your ride sounds like it was wonderful, but what it wasn't was a "Blue 
Moon" ride.  It is a common misconception that the second full moon in a 
month is a "Blue" moon, but this is incorrect.  Two full moons in one month 
is actually not that rare of an occurence.  A true "blue moon" occurs when 
there is a fourth full moon in a season, with "season" defines as the period 
between solstice and equinox.  Every year has two equinoxes and two 
solstices; Spring equinox (March 21), Summer solstice (June 21), Fall equinox 
(September 23), and Winter solstice (December 22).  Between these periods 
there is normally three full moons.  In a typical tropical year, there are 12 
full moons.  But every once in a while there will be thirteen full moons in a 
tropical year.  In those years, that thirteenth full moon throws the three 
moon per season equation out of sync.  Thus, one of the seasons must have a 
fourth full moon.  This occurrence is very rare, much rarer than two full 
moons in a month, and better explains the proverb "once in a blue moon" which 
means a very, very rare occurrence.
    BTW, that fourth full moon in a season is (surprisingly) NOT the one 
called the "Blue moon."  A Blue moon is the THIRD full moon in a four moon 
season, and always occurs within a day or two of the 21st day of the month 
BEFORE the equinox or solstice months, that is, February, May, August, or 
November.  A Blue moon can only occur in those four months.   1999 has NO 
blue moons (contrary to what most popular printed calanders say).  The next 
true, Blue moon occurs in February of the year 2000. 
     
Trish & pretty David,
Grand Blanc, Michigan


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