Commonly Asked Questions About Borrego Springs

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By Dennis Mammana Week of May 24-30, 2026 When you hear the phrase "once in a blue moon," what do you think? If you're like most people, you think of something that doesn't happen often. So what exactly is a blue moon, and why is it so rare? First off, a blue moon isn't all that rare. It occurs on average about once every 2.72 years. Secondly, the moon doesn't appear blue at all; it's just a regular ol' full moon that happens to be the second one in any particular month. You know this phenomenon if you receive a paycheck every two weeks. You'll usually get two checks a month, but occasionally you'll receive a third. It's not that uncommon, and neither is a blue moon, despite the popular meaning of the term. A second full moon in a month occurs occasionally because our calendar isn't synced with the lunar phases, even though the word "month" derives from the word "moon". What we call a month — approximately one-twelfth of a year — is longer than the moon's "synodic" period — the average time between one full moon and the next (29.53059 days). So every once in a while — every blue moon, one might say — two full moons will occur during the same calendar month. We'll see the next one on Saturday night, May 30. Be sure to watch as the moon rises in the southeast just after sunset that night. Chances are that it will first appear rather orange or red because its light must pass through a long column of air on its way to our eyes, and normal particulate matter suspended in the air scatters the moon's light and colors it orange. Some have defined the blue moon differently. Most seasons of the year will experience three full moons, but occasionally a fourth will sneak in. In that case, the fourth of the season would be known as a "blue moon." This seasonal definition may have originated from a 1943 question-and-answer column in Sky and Telescope magazine in which Laurence J. Lafleur traced the term to a 1937 "Maine Farmers' Almanac." Three years later, it seems, folklorist Philip Hiscock wrote in the same magazine an article that gave birth to the "second full moon in a month" idea. Neither of these situations is particularly unusual, so where did the rarity idea originate? Occasionally, especially thick smoke or volcanic ash particles suspended in our atmosphere can remove enough red moonlight to make the moon appear bluish. It is said that, after the Krakatoa volcanic eruption in 1883, the moon appeared blue for more than a year. As you might imagine, this is extremely rare. In fact, one might say that it happens ... only once in a blue moon! Now there's one more thing about the full moon that we'll see this coming weekend. It reaches its orbital "apogee" at 4:45 a.m. EDT / 1:45 a.m. PDT, its farthest point from the Earth (about 250,517 miles away). This means that it will appear as the smallest full moon of this year. You might hear it called a blue "mini moon," though most stargazers won't be able to see much difference from a normal full moon. Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. Learn More About Borrego Springs

Experience the Walk of the Cosmos in Borrego Springs—a journey through the solar system in a beautiful desert park with playgrounds, sports courts, and stargazing opportunities.

By Dennis Mammana Week of May 17-23, 2026 That brilliant light now glistening in the west at sunset is again the "star" of the show. It is, of course, the planet Venus, and this week it'll pair up with two other celestial wanderers: Jupiter and the moon. Jupiter, another very bright planet, has been descending farther to the west as the spring months progress, and it is now approaching a close encounter with Venus by the end of the month. This occurs because these worlds, along with the Earth, orbit the sun, and our constantly changing viewpoint makes them appear to drift slowly against the more distant and "fixed" stars. Over the next week, though, another solar system body will enter the scene: the moon. Since our celestial neighbor orbits the Earth once a month, we can see it change its position in the sky from night to night. Shortly after sunset on May 17, you might try searching very low in the west for the tiny and delicate crescent moon, but to find it, you'll need a very clear sky and a low horizon, and possibly binoculars. If you don't succeed, don't worry. It'll be pretty tough to spot, but if you wait until the next night, it'll be much easier to see. On the 18th, it will appear not far from Venus. Of course, the moon won't really be next to this planet; they will be separated by 124 million miles that evening, but since both lie roughly along the same line of sight, they'll appear together in the sky. For a really amazing view, check out the pair through binoculars! The following night, May 19, the moon will have moved eastward along its orbit and will appear about midway between Jupiter and Venus. If your sky is clear on May 20, check out the western sky again, and you'll notice that the moon is not only a significantly thicker crescent but now lies above Jupiter. Of course, this whole view is purely an illusion caused by our inability to see true depth in the cosmos, but it does result in a truly pretty picture. And speaking of pretty pictures, this week offers a good opportunity to try your hand at photographing the spectacle. Since the trio appears low enough in the sky at dusk, you can frame the scene with a foreground subject — a dramatic tree, building, sculpture or person, for example. You don't need fancy or expensive equipment to do this; just a regular camera or smartphone will do fine. You may find, however, that zooming in a bit will produce a more compelling image. If you shoot half an hour or so after sunset, you can probably trust the automatic settings of your camera or phone. Much later, though, you may need to adjust settings as you go because the light at dusk changes rapidly. Don't be afraid to experiment; if some photos turn out poorly, you can always hit "delete," and no one will ever know! I hope your skies are clear this week so you can enjoy the planetary sky show. And if you get some nice photos, please email me. I'd love to share your success!  Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. Learn More About Borrego Springs

Watch the video to hear Briem Cole's story and learn about his goals.

Discover freshly made pizza in Borrego Springs at Carlee’s and Calico’s, two family-run spots offering delicious options for both vegetarians and meat lovers in casual, welcoming settings.

Monday, May 4 at St. Barnabas A low-cost spay and neuter clinic hosted by Animal Action League will take place on Monday, May 4 at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church , 2680 Country Club Road in Borrego Springs. The clinic will offer affordable veterinary services for cats and dogs, including spay and neuter procedures, vaccinations, and microchipping . These services help reduce unwanted litters while supporting the long-term health, safety, and identification of companion animals in the Borrego Springs area. While pets are being cared for, the church will remain open to those waiting. Coffee will be available, creating a comfortable space during the morning hours. Check out this article about the last event. Animal Action League A Non-Profit Spay & Neuter Clinic Tax ID # 33-0345283 Call for an appointment: Office English: (760) 366-1100 Office Spanish: (760) 366-1105 Fax: (760) 366-7300 Email: aalreservations@gmail.com Mailing Address: PO Box 1413 Joshua Tree, CA 92252 Learn More About Borrego Springs 

Kundalini Bianco at The Mall A new wellness studio has opened at The Mall in Borrego Springs. Kundalini Bianco , Center for Nervous System and Soul Integration, is now offering weekly classes on the second floor in Suite #219. The schedule includes movement, Kundalini yoga, sound bowl healing, chanting, and humming. For locals and seasonal visitors looking for regular wellness classes in Borrego Springs, these weekly offerings add something new to the local mix. New Studio at The Mall Cherie Bianco just opened a new studio at The Mall, second floor, Suite #219,  Kundalini Bianco, Center for Nervous System and Soul Integration . Weekly Class Schedule Wednesdays 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM Core Energetic Movement / Sound Bowl Healing Thursdays 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM Kundalini Yoga of Awareness / Sound Bowls 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM Qualities Divine Names / Chanting / Humming Seasonal Offering These classes are being offered now through spring into early summer at The Mall in Borrego Springs. Location Kundalini Bianco The Mall, Second Floor Suite #219 Borrego Springs Learn More About Borrego Springs