PHOTOS: Rare Blue Moon Lights Up South African Skies on Halloween

This year’s full moon shining bright on Halloween really is a once-in-a-blue-moon blue moon! And Western Cape photographer Nigel Riley managed to perfectly time his capture of the rare treat, photographing the moon as it passed the iconic Kalk Bay lighthouse.

Tonight’s full moon is called a ‘blue moon’ because it is the second full moon of the month. And not because of its colour! (‘Blue moon’ used to refer to the third full moon in a season that unusually had four – instead of three – until an amateur astronomer got it wrong, and his definition stuck!) The last blue moon was in 2018, and the next will be in August 2023, says Space.com.

According to the Farmers’ Almanac this is the first time since 1944 that a Halloween full moon can be seen by citizens across the whole world (although it turns out some people in Australia will only see it on 1 November).

For those who are into celebrating Halloween tonight the rare full moon blue moon has added some extra excitement to the night’s festivities… particularly to those dressing up as werewolves!

If you’re into names and stats, tonight’s full moon is also called the Hunter’s Moon (first full moon after the Harvest Moon, according to the Farmers’ Almanac) and also “qualifies as a “micro-moon” or “minimoon,” because it will occur when the moon is close to its farthest point from Earth in its elliptical orbit.” So tonight  the moon is over 406,394 km from us… around 22,000 km further away than its average of 384,500km.

If you weren’t able to go out tonight… you’ll need to wait 19 years until the next Halloween Full Moon in 2039, says the Irish Astronomical Association.