• August 2012 counts as extra special because two full moons take place within the bounds of a single calendar month. Most of the time, a calendar month only features one full moon. But in cycles of nineteen years, or 228 calendar months, seven to eight calendar months harbor two full moons.
• For the mainland United States, the first full moon of August falls tonight (Wednesday, August 1) at 11:27 p.m. EDT, 10:27 p.m. CDT, 9:27 p.m. MDT or 8:27 p.m. PDT. By Universal Time - the standard clock time at the prime meridian of Greenwich, England - the moon turns

full on Thursday, August 2, at 3:27 in the morning. Although the full moon occurs at the same instant worldwide, the clock reads differently according to time zone.
• How do I translate my time into Universal Time?
• The second full moon of August 2012 comes on August 31, at 13:58 Universal Time. By popular acclaim, the second of two full moons to fall in the same calendar month goes by the moniker of blue moon. Although there are other definitions for blue moon, this is probably what most people think about when the term is being used.
• When is the next Blue Moon?
• If we exclude February, the month is either 30 or 31 days long. On the other hand, the time period between full moons varies from about 29.3 to 29.8 days. So if the full moon comes very early in the month - like it does in August 2012 - that leaves enough time for another full moon to beat out the clock before the month's end.

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