JEDDAH: We’ve all heard the expression “once in a blue moon” to denote something rare — and Saturday night was one of those special occasions, when the skies above the Kingdom were lit up with the spectacular full moon.
What makes it a blue moon is not its color, however, but the fact that it is the second full moon to appear in this calendar month, a phenomenon that occurs every 2.5-three years.
The term is also used for the third of four full moons in the season a blue moon, as each season contains three months.
With Saudi Arabian skies mostly clear and the full moon rising around sunset on a weekend, residents were able to take the chance to venture out in the desert and stargaze as evening temperatures drop.
Sky observers might also have noticed a reddish star nearby: Mars is vibrant and clear at present, and it is a good time to get a glimpse at the planet. The moon does really turn a blue color on very rare occasions, when “Earth’s atmosphere contains dust or smoke particles of a certain size, slightly wider than 900 nanometers,” according to EarthSky.
This happened when the volcano Krakatoa erupted in Indonesia in 1883, and the particles of ash in the air gave the moon a blue hue. People watched blue moons and purple sunsets for years, according to NASA.
Blue moon offers Saudi Arabia stargazers a celestial treat
https://arab.news/zg28n
Blue moon offers Saudi Arabia stargazers a celestial treat
- What makes it a blue moon is not its color, however, but the fact that it is the second full moon to appear in this calendar month
Saudi Arabian Scouts Association unveils environmental protection program in Riyadh
- Scouting association leader emphasizes that environmental scouting is not only a public service activity but also encouragea responsible behavior among young people
RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Scouts Association (SASA) has launched a new environmental protection program at King Salman Wildlife Park in Banban, north of Riyadh, marking a renewed commitment to conservation and youth engagement in sustainability efforts.
The initiative, unveiled in the presence of scouts, rovers, and scout leaders representing various scouting sectors, brought together partners from relevant government agencies and private-sector organizations, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The program reflects growing collaboration between civic groups and national institutions to advance environmental protection goals across the Kingdom.
Abdulrahman Al-Mudaris, secretary-general of the association, said the initiative underscores the scouts’ active role in supporting national strategies to preserve natural resources and promote sustainable development.
He emphasized that environmental scouting is not only a public service activity but also an educational approach designed to instill environmental awareness and encourage responsible behavior among young people.
The launch event featured a series of hands-on activities, including planting seedlings, sowing seeds, and distributing them throughout the park to support vegetation growth and enhance biodiversity.
Founded in 1961, the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement and operates under the umbrella of the Ministry of Education.
Over the decades, Saudi scouts have played a visible role in community service, disaster response, and public event organization, including supporting pilgrim services during Hajj and Umrah seasons.
