Thousands have gathered outside to witness the rare astronomical even dubbed as the Blue Moon the night of August 20. The splendor of this phenomenon was seen over USA, Canada, Europe, and other parts of the world.

Ever since astronomers have predicted this occurrence, millions of people prepare in anticipation for the Blue Moon event. If you are one of those who are excited to see the Blue Moon, here are five important facts that you should know:

1. The Blue Moon is not really blue.

We'd hate to burst your bubble, but the fact is, the Blue Moon's name is not related to its color. The term "Blue Moon" was used for this event because years ago, our ancestors thought that the unusual size of the moon makes it blue. The Blue Moon as we call it can have a lot of colors depending on the factors on the ground. For example, the Blue Moon may appear red in areas where air pollution is rampant, or it may appear blue in places where ash and smoke are common.

2. The Blue Moon has a lot of names.

This phenomenon is referred to by scientists and novice people using a lot of names. Some call it as the Full Sturgeon Moon, the Grain Moon, and Green Corn Moon. Some people also refer to it as the Full Red Moon. As you can see, the name for the Blue Moon actually varies depending on the place where it is mostly seen.

3. it's a very rare occurrence.

If you can, snap as many pictures of the Blue Moon as possible. Why? This event is happens very rarely. In fact, the next Blue Moon won't happen until 2015. The phrase "once in a blue moon" was derived from the rarity of this event.

Still baffled by this amazing phenomena? Here is a video revealing more interesting information about the Blue Moon: