Rare 'Blue Moon' to appear Friday : Send us your photos

A blue moon on August 31 coincides with a private memorial service for Neil Armstrong, who became the first man to walk on its surface in 1969. (NASA/Reuters) This Friday, sky-watchers worldwide will be able to witness an astronomical event that only ever happens, well, "once in a blue moon."

The second full moon of the calendar month will emerge on August 31. While most months have only one full moon, a second one manages to sneak into the calendar every 2.7 years on average, according to NASA.

Called a "blue moon," this rare occurrence isn't scheduled to re-occur until 2015.

A common misconception is that the colour of the moon will actually be blue on Friday, based on its name. Experts say that this is not the case.

"Thought to be called 'blue' after an old English term meaning betrayer, a blue moon is an extra full moon that occurs due to a quirk of the calendar," reads Space.com's guide to blue moons. "The moon can actually appear blue under certain circumstances, such as when ash is present in the atmosphere from fires or volcanic eruptions. This type of Blue Moon cannot be predicted in advance, however."

While this blue moon is significant due to its rarity, it also happens to fall on the same day as a private memorial service for Neil Armstrong.

The late astronaut, who died last Saturday in Ohio at age 82, was the first man to walk on the moon in 1969.

Armstrong's family has suggested paying tribute to him by looking at the moon and giving it a wink, reports the Associated Press.



To see Friday's blue moon for yourself, simply glance up into the sky after the sun goes down on Friday.

Those in areas with less-than-ideal weather conditions will be able to watch a special livestream hosted by the Slooh Space Camera. Live views from various telescopes around the world will be streaming here beginning at 6 p.m. ET August 31.

We'd love to see what the blue moon looks like in your neck of the woods. If you're able to see it, snap a photo to share with the CBC Community and upload it below.

We'll be rounding up our favourite shots in a Blue Moon 2012 photo gallery.