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The term "blue moon" refers to an event when there are two full moons within a single calendar month. This phenomenon occurs approximately once every 2 to 3 years. The term "blue" doesn't actually indicate the moon's color, but rather comes from the phrase "once in a blue moon," which means something rare or unusual.
The occurrence of a blue moon is due to the discrepancy between the lunar month, which is about 29.5 days long, and the calendar month, which typically ranges from 28 to 31 days. This misalignment can lead to two full moons fitting within one calendar month.
It's important to note that atmospheric conditions or volcanic eruptions can sometimes cause the moon to appear bluish in color, but this is unrelated to the blue moon phenomenon. The blue moon event is purely based on the timing of full moons within a given month.