This specific moon was called the Sturgeon Moon by the Algonquin tribes, as it reflected the time of year when the large fish was easily caught in the Great Lakes and other major US water bodies. The first recorded use of 'Blue Moon' in English dates from 1528, but according to NASA, the name may come from dust in the moon's atmosphere causing it to appear blue to those on Earth. The average Blue Moon only appears once every three years, but this summer saw see four full moons and the third in a season is always called a Blue Moon – the fourth is Monday's Harvest Moon. Unfortunately, Earth's natural satellite did not live up to its name – it will not shine a stunning blue in the night sky, rather glow a ghostly white. The stunning first full moon of September is seen rising over beach huts at Hengistbury Head in Dorset in 2020 This year it is the fourth full moon of the season and is set to rise at 7:55 pm ET - it will also appear full for a total of three days.
