Blue moon adds lustre to Guru Purnima today
The second full moon that occurs in a month is called a blue moon, and is a rarity
Hyderabad: Guru Purnima this year, considered auspicious by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, will have added lustre this year as Friday will be a blue moon.
The second full moon that occurs in a month is called a blue moon, and is a rarity.
Dr Kalpana Srinagar, a ghazal singer said, “Many students follow the tradition of seeking the blessings of their gurus on the auspicious day of Guru Purnima.
“Many of us consider guru as god, as the guru does not discriminate and imparts knowledge to every student according to his or her calibre. Traditionally it is not only followed in the musical world but by religious institutions as well.”
The full moon, however, may dull the Delta Aquarid meteor showers that started on Thursday night. The showers will continue till August 6.
Dr B.G. Sidharth, director of BM Birla Science Centre said, “When comets go around the sun, they lose some material because of the radiation and the debris gets accumulated along their orbits. When Earth nears such orbits, its gravity pulls the debris to it. The debris, which weigh in tonnes, break up as they enter the atmosphere and burn due to the friction.”
Four years back there was a meteor shower and some debris was found in the outskirts of Hyderabad. It was less than a kg and appeared burnt.
However seeing shooting stars is a matter of luck and one needs to keep a constant watch.
“The debris gets fragmented…the bigger ones could be of a few kilograms to a few tonnes. The ones that don’t get fragmented can from craters once they fall. The shower of debris adds to the Earth’s weight that increases every year,” added the director.