This is the second full moon to shine down on us in the month of December. Blue moons are properly said to occur when there are 4 full moons in a season. By this measure, the next blue moon is November 21st, 2010. However, it is also commonplace to call the second moon in a calendar month a blue moon. This definition of the blue moon is a relatively modern one. The earliest record of this usage dates back to 1946, when it appeared in an issue of Sky & Telescope magazine.
So this is it, the last full moon of 2009, a blue moon seeing in 2010. I hope it portends well for the upcoming year. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable celebration and a year that brings you much joy. Happy New Year!
Willow House Chronicles 
You were up posting at 2 AM?!? Oy Vey! I did my blue moon post first thing this morning when I got to work, but I see you beat me by 7.5 hours!
I decided to get my photo last night, too, because it is likely to be overcast tonight.
Happy New Year!
Hee, well actually, I schedule most of my posts to be set loose on the world in the night. I also usually try to take moon shots a day or two in advance if the weather is good, because otherwise, you may end up photoless, as you note. The first photo was taken a couple of days ago with the moon at near-full, when it rose at 2 in the afternoon and looked very nice in the blue sky! All the best for 2010.
Now, then, would be the appropriate time to wish for peace on earth?
LB, it’s always an appropriate time to wish for peace on earth!
How beautiful. I sat up late that night as well to moon-gaze, but none of my pictures came out. So glad someone else captured it’s beauty. The next one is not until 2012.
It was a good way to start the new year, Christina. Hope your year is going well!