Its Super Blue Blood Moon on 31st January 2018!
This is now or wait a lot chance. The day of Wednesday 31st January, 2018 is the day of Moon. Its gonna be just as rare as it sounds. The Luna is all ready with its triple line up treat. All the eyes from western North America, Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Australia are on the luck!
What so big, you may ask? I say; You won’t just see blue moon or extra-big supermoon but total lunar eclipse at the same time! All this three incidence will rollout together [Uhh, thats gonna be a huge busy day for Luna!].
And, the last time you might have witnessed it, was the year of 1982. The event will reappear as early as 2037.
But what all this supermoon and bluemoon & bloodmoon terms really mean? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
Luna has elliptical orbit. supermoon is when moon is closets to earth. This point, called the perigee, makes the moon appear 14% larger and 30% brighter. On average, the distance of moon from earth surface is roughly 382,900 km. On supermoon, its at a distance nearest, at 344,610 km.
The bluemoon on the other hand, is the second full moon in the same calendar month. This occurs typical only every two years & eight months. And this has nothing to do with actual blue color.
Total lunar eclipse is what makes the moon look bloody red colored. The astronomical phenomenon occurs when earth is exactly in the middle of moon & sun. When they three align in straight line & only the (umbra) shadow of earth falls on Luna. The only light seen, is refracted from earths atmosphere. The reason for the red colored moon is the same for red sunset.
This full moon is also the third in a series of “supermoons,”. The alignment of the sun, moon and Earth will last one hour and 16 minutes, visible before dawn across the western U.S. and Canada. Those in the Middle East, Asia, eastern Russia, Australia and New Zealand should look for it in the evening, as the moon rises.
You may need a pair of astronomical binoculars or telescope for most unmatching experience. Unlike a solar eclipse, the lunar eclipse can be viewed safely without protective eyewear.