New Year's Eve "Blue Snow Moon" - and Partial Lunar Eclipse, December 31, 2009!

The month of December, 2009 will have two full moons. The first full moon will shine bright near the beginning of the month, December 2, and the second full moon will illuminate the skies on New Year's Eve. The second full moon is called a blue moon. Two full moons in the same month is rare and happens only once in every couple of years. Months with 31 days have the greatest chance of showing blue moons. July, August and October are at the top of that list, and the only month that might have no full moons is the short month of February. So celebrate! This party could be a "once -in-a-blue-moon, New Year's Eve party!"

American Indian names for December's full moon!

The Cherokee call December's full moon the "snow moon," so, this one might also be called the "blue snow moon!" Other American Indians, also, had names for December's full moon: the Creek called it "big winter moon," the Kiowa named it the "real goose moon," "moon when the deer shed their horns" was from the Sioux, and it was the "big bear's moon" to the Winnebago.

The phrase, "once in a blue moon" has come to mean "every now and then" or "rarely," and has been around for a long time.

Blue moon songs!

Enjoy listening to Elvis Presley singing the love song ""Blue Moon." Frank Sinatra turned the words and music of blue moon into an unforgettable tune, while the smooth, deep voice of Patsy Cline brought this song over radios.

Add a "Blue Moon" ringtone to your phone over the month of December! Be creative - you'll be a couple of years older the next time there's a blue moon!

Partial lunar eclipse New Year's Eve 2009!

There will also be a partial lunar eclipse on this night that could be seen from Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe. This one will be the last of four in 2009. The lunar eclipse of February 09, was visible in some of eastern Europe, Asia, Pacific Ocean, Australia and western North America. Viewable also in the Americas was the July 7 eclipse. On August 06 Most of the Americas might have seen this one, along with Europe, Africa and some of Asia.

So throw a party this New Year's Eve and have some fun!

Sources:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_moon -
www.snowwowl.com/moonnames.html
www.infoplease.com/spot/bluemoon1.html -
www.bluemoontours.com
hagerstownmd.usl.myareaguide.com/ypcyellow.html?..
www.metrolyrics.com/blue-moon-lyrics-elvis-presley.html
www.lyricsfreak.com/e/ella.../blue+moon_20045688.html
www.bluesforpeace.com/lyrics/blue-moon.htm
www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/.../blue-moon-of-kentucky-10508.html
www.obliquity.com/astro/bluemoon.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_2009_lunar_eclipse
eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/
www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy_calendar_current.html