Wow! Massive 'Blue Moon' Looms Over Ancient Italian Castle

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'Blue Moon’ Looms Over Volterraio Castle
Stefano De Rosa captured this image of the “Blue Moon” of Aug. 20, 2013 as it rose over ancient Volterraio Castle, which overlooks the Gulf of Portoferraio on the Italian island of Elba. (Image credit: Stefano De Rosa | www.stefanoderosa.com)

The most ancient fortification on the Italian island of Elba was greeted by a massive full moon rising in this amazing photo. 

Photographer Stefano De Rosa’s "carefully planned shot" of Aug. 20 brilliantly captured this season’s "Blue Moon" as it loomed over Volterraio Castle — a deteriorating stronghold of old that overlooks the Gulf of Portoferraio, a few miles from the city of Portoferraio.

De Rosa's image is one of many amazing photos of the Blue Moon captured by photographers and amateur astronomers around the world this month.

2013 Guy Ottewell's Astronomical Calendar. Buy Here (Image credit: Space.com Store)

The name "Blue Moon" signifies the third full moon in a season with four full moons. It doesn't necessarily appear any different from other full moons during the year. Another Blue Moon definition refers to the Blue Moon as the second full moon in a single month. The special name was given to give stargazers an excuse to look up at the night sky.

SPACE.com was flooded with dazzling Blue Moon photos by stargazers and readers. We got submissions from areas all over the United States, other parts of the Northern Hemisphere and countries in the Southern Hemisphere.

Editor's note: If you have an amazing night sky photo you'd like to share for a possible story or image gallery, please contact managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com.

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Nina Sen
Contributing Writer and Producer

Nina Sen is a freelance writer and producer who covered night sky photography and astronomy for Space.com. She began writing and producing content for Space.com in 2011 with a focus on story and image production, as well as amazing space photos captured by NASA telescopes and other missions. Her work also includes coverage of amazing images by astrophotographers that showcase the night sky's beauty.