Once in a "Blue Moon" 31 July, 2015 - Next in 2018

In July month of 2015 Moon will appear in its Total Phase (full Moon) for two times. Making the Second Full Moon Visible on 31^st July to be referred (from recent years) as Blue Moon.

Generally in a Calendar year at least one Full Moon is visible in the sky every month. However sometimes rarely two full moons appear in same month. Hence in the modern western folklore metaphorically to describe the rarity of this occurrence of second full moon (like on 31st July) in a month is popularly referred to as Blue Moon. 

 

Dates of Full Moons in July 2015: In July month this year 2015. First Full Moon appeared on 2^nd July, 2015. Whereas Second Full Moon will appear on 31^st July, 2015.

Direction – Time to watch: On 31^st July, 2015 one can look towards East Direction to see Moon which will Rise at 6.43 p.m. whereas technically speaking the Moon will however reach its fully illuminated Total phase at 4.13pm itself.

Note: Moon Rise time for Delhi is 7.01pm, Dibrugarh (5.46 p.m.), Ahmadabad (7.14pm), 6.36pm (Kanyakumari), Bhopal (6.54 p.m). Across India depending on observers location should look East few minutes after Sunset when Moon is above horizon.  

When was last time - Blue Moon Event Occurred and when is Next One? The last time “Blue Moon” event occurred was on 31^st of August Month in 2012 (2 August 2012 & 31 August 2012). The next time it will occur is on 31^st of January Month in 2018 (2^nd Jan 2018 & 31^st Jan 2018).

How Moon will appear on 31^st July, 2015? Will it Appear Blue?  No, Full Moon on 31^st July will not appear Blue just because it’s Second Full Moon in Single Month or it is called so. It would be like any other Full Moon which people usually observe.  The phrase has nothing to do with the actual color of the moon, although a literal "blue moon" (the moon appearing with a tinge of blue) may occur in certain atmospheric conditions after Volcanic eruptions (1883 Indonesian volcano Krakatoa, 1983 Eruption of Volcano in Mexico), Forest Fires (1953 in Alberta, Canada) etc...