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Breathtaking photos show how people around the world experienced last night's 'Blue Moon'

Alex LockieAug 1, 2015, 21:36 IST

A full moon, known as the Blue Moon is seen over Loosely Row, near Princes Risborough, southeast England, July 31, 2015.REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

On July 31st a rare phenomenon could be seen all around the world-a Blue Moon.

A Blue Moon, while not exactly blue in color, is the term for the second full moon to occur in a calendar month.

The reason for this anomaly is explained by Columbia University professor of Astrology James Applegate: "The fact that our months are about a day longer than the time between full moons means that if the 1st or 2nd (for a 31-day month) is a full moon, then we get a second full moon (the blue moon) in the same month."

This rarity won't be seen again until January 31, 2018, but skygazers around the world took plenty of photos of last night's Blue Moon in case you missed out.