In the 19-year cycle, known as the Metonic cycle, there are 235 full moons, yet only 228 months
The popular phrase ‘once in a blue moon', will be a reality on July 31, since the month will see two full moons, with the second one termed as a Blue Moon.
Hyderabad: The popular phrase ‘once in a blue moon’, will be a reality on July 31, since the month will see two full moons, with the second one termed as a Blue Moon. Mr D. Siddharth, director of Birla Science Planetarium said that July 2 and July 31 are the two full moon nights of the month.
In the 19-year cycle, known as the Metonic cycle, there are 235 full moons, yet only 228 months. Because the number of full moons outnumbers the number of calendar months, it means at least seven of these 228 months will have two full moons.
However, if a February within this 19-year period has no full moon at all as is the case in February 2018 that means this extra full moon must fall within another month. Therefore, 2018 will have two Blue Moon months.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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