Partial Eclipse Means a Blue Moon for New Year's Eve

The event will also mark the second full moon of the month in North America, thereby garnering the title of "blue moon." Unless unusual atmospheric circumstances come into play — such as widespread dust from a volcano — the moon will not be blue, however.

Eclipses of the moon occur twice a year, on average. Each eclipse is visible only on the half of the Earth turned towards the moon at the time the Earth's shadow falls on the moon.

Since it is a partial eclipse, the moon will just brush past the darkest part of the Earth's shadow, never becoming totally immersed. It will, however, be deep enough into the shadow that shading and reddish color should be visible.