By Liam Mannix
A blue moon, thick and full, illuminated the sky above Melbourne on Thursday night and brought social media snappers out in droves.
Well, a 99-per-cent blue moon if we’re being accurate.
Tonight’s actually the night for the 100 per cent full moon – the second of the month, which means it’s known as a "blue".
We get blue moons once every two years – our last one was way back in August 2012, when we were still chasing Joseph Kony on Facebook and Julia Gillard was still writing her famed mysogeny speech.
Is a blue moon actually bluer than a normal moon?
Well, no.
That would not make any sense, would it?
“Blue Moons look pale gray and white, just like the Moon you've seen on any other night,” NASA explains.
“Squeezing a second full Moon into a calendar month doesn't change its colour.”
For those looking to catch a glimpse – or a Snapchat – of tonight’s blue, it’s set to rise a little before 5.30pm, and descend out of view a little before 6.40am Saturday.