For the first time in over a decade, New Year’s Eve revelry, from early- evening snowshoe hikes to midnight fireworks, will take place by the light of a blue moon.

Savor the moment, astronomers say, because the phenomenon in which two full moons occur in the same month won’t happen again in December until 2028.

“I encourage people to look up, enjoy the sight and think about all the interesting things that have happened” over the past decade, said Robert Stencel, professor of astronomy at the University of Denver, where public astronomy events are often held at the Chamberlin Observatory. “And be happy that we’re still here to observe it.”

Thursday night’s blue moon also coincides with a lunar eclipse — although it won’t be visible in the United States — that astrologers say carries powerful meaning.

“Full moons, and especially eclipses, call us to release what is no longer serving our growth,” said Cynthia Zehn, a Western Slope astrologer, in her weekly blog.

Scientists, however, don’t see these conjunctions as particularly momentous.

“But it’s kind of nice that it shows up at the end of the week at the end of the month at the end of the year of the decade,” Stencel said.

Andrea Schweitzer, project manager for the International Year of Astronomy, observes that the New Year’s Eve full moon falls at the end of the International Year of Astronomy, declared by the United Nations to celebrate the 400 years since Galileo gazed at the sky through the first telescope.

“It’s a wonderful way to wrap up what has been a beautiful year for astronomy,” said the Fort Collins-based scientist. “Everyone enjoys looking at a full moon. They’re beautiful, and they also rise as the sun sets.”

There is, of course, endless lore about full moons that most emergency rooms and police departments know by heart.

“There’s the myth out there that crazy things happen under full moons,” said Mark Beckner, police chief of Boulder. “I don’t know if it’s true, but there are times when things have gotten kind of crazy.”

As for this “once in a blue moon” New Year’s Eve, Beckner said that the year-turning holiday “always has the potential to be busy because people are out at parties drinking more than normal.”

And whether people imbibe too many Blue Moon cocktails — curacao, gin and a twist of lemon — or quaff too much Blue Moon Grand Cru, brewed for the occasion by Denver’s Blue Moon Brewery, Beckner suggests it’s not the moon that is to blame for the bad behavior that may follow.

“I don’t know that it will be due to the full moon,” he said. “I’ve also worked some nights when it’s slow on a full moon.”

Colleen O’Connor: 303-954-1083 or coconnor@denverpost.com

Blue moon rising

The moon rises at 4:52 p.m. Thursday, becomes officially full at 12:13 a.m. Friday and sets at 7:19 a.m. Friday.

Fireworks and fourteeners

Looking for a place to celebrate under the full moon?

Zoo Year’s Eve: The Denver Zoo’s celebration starts at 5 p.m. and winds up with an early countdown to the New Year at 9 p.m. 2300 Steele St., Denver.

Denver Botanic Gardens: The gardens’ Blossoms of Light exhibit joins in the New Year’s Eve celebration Thursday, 5:30 to 10 p.m., with the last ticket sold at 9:30 p.m. 1005 York St., Denver.

16th Street Mall fireworks: The Downtown Denver Partnership will light up the sky with fireworks twice Thursday night, at 9 p.m. and midnight.

Pikes Peak fireworks: The AdAmAn Club marks its annual New Year’s Eve trek up Pikes Peak by inviting mountaineer Don Ellis to join on the hike that he made 50 years ago as an Eagle Scout. Weather permitting, the trekkers will welcome the new year with a fireworks display from the 14,110-foot summit.

RTD: Buses and light rail are free from 7 p.m. New Year’s Eve until 6 a.m. New Year’s Day.