Once in a Blue Moon

In 2004, there is a month with two full moons. The second full moon in a month is called a Blue Moon, due to its rarity. The name Blue Moon was reportedly coined hundreds of years ago when ash from volcanic activity once gave the moon a blue cast, but normally the moon does not look blue. The lunar month is 29.5 days as opposed to the current calendar with varied number of days per month. Out of 249 full moons, there are only nine Blue Moons in a 20-year period between January 1990 and December 2009. They occur about every two and a half years.

First Moon Blue Moon
1990-12-02 1990-12-31
1993-09-01 1993-09-30
1996-07-01 1996-07-30
1999-01-02 1999-01-31
1999-03-02 1999-03-31
2001-11-01 2001-11-30
2004-07-02 2004-07-31
2007-06-01 2007-06-30
2009-12-02 2009-12-31

Due to the infrequency of two full moons in a month, the expression “once in a Blue Moon” is oft said with good reason. A Blue Moon is connected with finding a rare and true romance by songwriters and poets. To celebrate the Blue Moon on Saturday, July 31, as a special event just might take some planning ahead of time. Think of the possibilities of something special to do under the forthcoming Blue Moon...

* Walk the Golden Gate Bridge
*Take a ferry ride to Vallejo and back
*Ride a bike to Sausalito and ferry back
*Wander the streets of Tiburon
*Visit Alcatraz at night
*Host or attend a party on a Charter Boat
*Picnic and hike around Angel Island
*Cable car the hills of San Francisco
*Take a Bay cruise, then enjoy Pier 39
*Host or attend a BBQ
*Arrange dinner at the beach
*Sail on the Bay
*Dance by the light of the Moon*