Blue Moon Illuminates Skies Across Arab World

A so-called "Blue Moon" illuminated skies across the Arab world on Sunday night as the full moon of Dhu Al-Hijjah remained visible until sunrise on Monday.

According to astronomers, the event marked the second full moon to occur in May, a phenomenon commonly referred to as a Blue Moon.

Jeddah Astronomy Society Director Majed Abu Zahra said the term "Blue Moon" is not a scientific astronomical designation but a calendrical description used for an additional full moon within a specific period.

The term is most commonly applied to the second full moon occurring in a single Gregorian month, a definition that became widely adopted during the 20th century.

He explained that a full moon occurs when the Moon is positioned opposite the Sun relative to Earth, leaving the side facing Earth fully illuminated as the Sun-Earth-Moon angle approaches 180 degrees.