LAHORE, Aug 31: The world had the privilege to see a ‘blue moon’ when the second full moon in August graced the sky on Friday night.

Blue moon is defined as “the second full moon in a month”. The first occurred on Aug 2. The next will take place after three years — on July 31, 2015.

The rarity of the phenomenon has given rise to the idiom, “once in a blue moon”, which means something which does not happen very often. A ‘blue moon’ has nothing to do with the colour, although the earth’s nearest neighbour can assume a bluish tinge if there is volcanic ash in the atmosphere.

Opinion

Editorial

A new war
Updated 01 Mar, 2026

A new war

UNLESS there is an immediate diplomatic breakthrough, the joint Israeli-American aggression against Iran launched on...
Breaking the cycle
01 Mar, 2026

Breaking the cycle

THE confrontation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has taken a dangerous turn. Attacks, retaliatory strikes and the...
Anonymous collections
01 Mar, 2026

Anonymous collections

THE widespread emergence of ‘nameless donation boxes’ soliciting charity in cities and towns across Punjab...
Afghan hostilities
Updated 28 Feb, 2026

Afghan hostilities

The need is for an immediate ceasefire and substantive negotiations, with the onus on the Taliban to rein in cross-border attacks.
Cutting taxes
28 Feb, 2026

Cutting taxes

PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s plan to cut direct taxes for businesses in the next budget acknowledges the strain...
KCR challenge
28 Feb, 2026

KCR challenge

THE Karachi Circular Railway is being discussed again. It seems that the project, or, rather, the hopes of it, are...