Once in a Super Blue Blood Moon

After 151 Years, a once-in-a-lifetime celestial phenomenon will be visible from India when the supermoon, blue moon, and red moon appear in the night sky. You don’t want to miss the Super Blue Blood Moon occurring on January 31^st 2018! By Pallavi Mehra

 

At the end of this month, sky gazers are in for a treat. Not only is it a total lunar eclipse, but also a blue moon and a super moon. This means that a full moon will turn an orangey-red color as it passes through the Earth’s shadow. What makes it even more special is that it’s also going to be a super moon and a blue moon. Archaeology News reports that this event will be visible in western North America, Asia, Australia, and elsewhere across the Eastern Hemisphere.

 

What are the supermoon, blue moon and blood moon?

 

The supermoon is an occurrence whereby the moon comes closest to the Earth and appears larger and brighter than a regular full moon. A blue moon is a rare occurrence that happens once every two and a half years. It’s a term used to describe the occurrence of two full moons in a single calendar month. Since, the January 31^st supermoon is the second full moon of the month, it’s also a blue moon!

 

That’s not all, the super blue moon will also coincide with a total lunar eclipse. A total lunar eclipse happens when the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow and becomes almost invisible. A total lunar eclipse is also commonly known as a blood moon. According to NASA, “The Moon will lose its brightness and take on an eerie, fainter-than-normal glow from the scant sunlight that makes it way through Earth’s atmosphere.”

 

 

How can you see it?

 

You don’t want to miss this once-in-a-blue moon event! This extraordinary moon will be visible in India between 6:21pm and 7:37pm on January 31st, 2018. Special equipment is not required to view the moon, however binoculars or a telescope will improve your experience. We are just hoping the sky is clear.