Rare Blue Moon Today: Give Neil Armstrong A Wink

A private service for Neil Armstrong will be held today in Ohio, coinciding with a rare “blue moon” that can be seen here in the desert.

Armstrong, who died Aug. 25 in Ohio at age 82 following complications from cardiovascular procedures, was the first man to walk on the moon as commander of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission.

His Friday service falls on the same date as the uncommon blue moon.

The phenomenon occurs when there's a second full moon in one calendar month. The full moon cycle is 29.5 days, so a blue moon is rare: It won't happen again until July 2015.

Scientists say the occurrence doesn’t raise much interest with them. The moon won’t actually be colored blue, but it is a “once in a blue moon” type of event and made a little more special by Armstrong: According to The Associated Press, the famous astronaut’s family has suggested paying tribute to him by looking at the blue moon and giving him a wink.

Locally, the moon is set to rise at 7:13 p.m. tonight.