There’s a full moon tonight, the second so far this month, and it should light up the New Year celebrations. But why is it called a Blue Moon?

We’ve maybe all heard of the phrase ‘once in a blue moon’ but what does it mean?

Well according to popular definition a blue moon is when a full moon occurs twice in a month.

The last full moon occurred on the 2nd December and the second will occur tonight the 31st December.

To get two full moons in a month is fairly rare as most of the time we get 12 full moons a year – one every month.

But to get an extra full moon in a month, called a blue moon, occurs on average every 2 and a half years.

A blue moon on New Year's Eve though is even are rarer with them only occurring every 19 years.

The last time we had such an event was in 1990 and the next one won't come again until 2028.

There will be ample opportunity to see the blue moon tonight not only as the skies are forecast to be clear around Fethiye but also as the moon will be visible all night. It will rise around 4:30pm EET and not set until 6:45am the following morning.

So as you stare up into the sky tonight with a drink in hand you can amaze, or bore, your friends with your knowledge of the blue moon.

And if that fails you can always sing the song.........All together now

“Blue Moon

You saw me standing alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Blue Moon

..................”