Look Out for A Blue Moon Friday

Look to the sky Friday to see a "blue moon." 

But don't expect to see the color blue. A blue moon refers to the rarity of multiple full moons in a month or season. will be the second in August. The first took place on Aug. 1. 

Two blue moons in a month typically occurs every 2.7 years, according to the Huffington Post. 

The last blue moon was on Dec. 31, 2009, and the next won't occur until 2015.

The "two moons in one month" definition of a blue moon is actually fairly modern, since the widespread adoption of the standard calender. In folklore, a blue moon was the third full moon of a season that had four.

Best time to see the Blue Moon: The moon will be at its fullest at 8:58 a.m. CST, according to the Farmers' Almanac. 

Blue Moon programs

Friends of Monarch's Blue Moon Event: The Friends of the Monarch Trail will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Monarch Trail on the Milwaukee County Grounds, 9480 Watertown Plank Rd. in Wauwatosa. More details are in this .

Blue Moon Night Hike: It's a little bit of a hike to get there, but the Pringle Nature Center, at 9800 160th Ave, Bristol in Kenosha County, will be having a Blue Moon program.

From 7:30 to 9 p.m. the nature center's Sky & Telescopes program will discuss the two different definitions of a Blue Moon, their origins and other lore about the moon. Registration is required: call 262-857-8008 or e-mail to register. Cost is $3 for Friends members, $5 for the general public.

Blue Moon Beer-Swim: And if you're looking for a really special way to celebrate the rare celestial sight, a blog by the Lake Michigan Swimmers said they will celebrate with at Klode Park in Whitefish Bay with a Blue Moon beer toast at 6:30 p.m. followed by a Lake Michigan swim.