Q: What is the status of the investigation into the swastika painted on Rep. David Scott’s campaign headquarters sign?

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Q: What is the status of the investigation into the swastika painted on Rep. David Scott’s campaign headquarters sign?

— James Doppelheuer, Snellville

A: The investigation into the August incident outside the congressman’s Smyrna office is still under way, said David Johnson, Scott’s district director. He said there have been no leads, however, in the investigation, which has involved the Smyrna police, Capitol police, FBI and Secret Service.

Q: What is the origin of the term “blue moon?” It is used when more than one full moon occurs in a month — as in when there’s a full moon Dec. 2 and Dec. 31.

— Gloria Martz, Jonesboro

A: The moon typically takes 29 to 29 1/2 days to revolve around the earth, said Angela Sarrazine, an astronomer at Fernbank Science Center. Since most months are 30 to 31 days long, about every 2 to 2 1/2 years, a month will have two full moons, she said. The second full moon on Dec. 31 will be called a blue moon, the term used in modern folklore to describe two full moons within one month, she said. A NASA report links the term to the 1883 explosion of the Indonesian volcano Krakatoa, when ash rose to the top of the Earth’s atmosphere, making the moon appear blue. Sky & Telescope magazine links the term to an article in a 1946 issue that erroneously used data from the Maine Farmers’ Almanac that referred to a blue moon occurring a certain number of times per season, not a calendar year.

Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).