A “blood moon” occurs when Earth’s moon is in a total lunar eclipse. Whereas it has no particular astronomical significance, the view within the sky is hanging because the normally whitish moon turns into crimson or ruddy brown.
Lunar eclipses can solely occur throughout a full moon, when the sun absolutely illuminates the floor. Normally, a full moon has no eclipse as a result of the moon orbits in a barely completely different airplane than the Earth and the sun. Nonetheless, at occasions the planes coincide. Earth passes in between the moon and the sun and cuts off the daylight, inflicting an eclipse.
The following lunar eclipse will happen on Nov. 8, 2022, producing the “Beaver Blood Moon” to learn the way and the place to see this phenomenon take a look at our Beaver Blood Moon lunar eclipse guide.
Associated: Lunar eclipses 2022: When, where & how to see them
If Earth partially blocks the sun, and the darkest a part of its shadow falls throughout the moon’s floor, it’s known as a partial eclipse. You will notice a black shadow taking a chunk out of the moon. Generally, the moon passes by means of the lighter a part of Earth’s shadow, inflicting a penumbral eclipse. Solely seasoned skywatchers will be capable to inform the distinction as a result of the moon solely darkens very barely.
Throughout a full eclipse, nevertheless, one thing spectacular occurs. The moon is absolutely in Earth’s shadow. On the identical time, a little bit bit of sunshine from Earth’s sunrises and sunsets (on the disk of the planet) falls on the floor of the moon. As a result of the sunshine waves are stretched out, they give the impression of being crimson. When this crimson mild strikes the moon’s floor, it additionally seems crimson.
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How crimson the moon seems can rely upon how a lot air pollution, cloud cowl or particles there’s within the ambiance. For instance, if an eclipse takes place shortly after a volcanic eruption, the particles within the ambiance will make the moon look darker than normal.
Whereas there are planets and moons all around the solar system, solely Earth is fortunate sufficient to expertise lunar eclipses as a result of its shadow is simply massive sufficient to cowl the moon utterly. The moon is slowly drifting away from our planet (at roughly 1.6 inches or 4 centimeters a 12 months) and this case will not persist perpetually. There are roughly two to 4 lunar eclipses yearly, based on NASA, and each is seen over about half the Earth.
When is the following blood moon?
The following total lunar eclipse, and due to this fact the following blood moon, can be November 8, 2022. NASA has a list of all the lunar eclipses until 2100 (opens in new tab).
How a blood moon saved Christopher Columbus
Some historic cultures did not perceive why the moon turned crimson, causing fear. At the least one explorer — Christopher Columbus — used this to his benefit in 1504.
In keeping with a Space.com Skywatching columnist Joe Rao, Columbus and his crew have been stranded on an island now often known as Jamaica. At first the Arawak individuals who lived there have been welcoming, however over time, Columbus’ crew grew stressed and murdered or robbed a number of the natives. Understandably, the native individuals weren’t keen to assist the crew seek for meals, and Columbus realized famine was drawing close to.
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Columbus had an almanac with him foretelling when the following lunar eclipse would happen. Armed with this info, he advised the Arawak that the Christian god was sad that Columbus and his crew obtained no meals. God would flip the moon crimson as a logo of his anger, Columbus stated. Because the occasion befell, frightened individuals “with nice howling and lamentation got here working from each route to the ships laden with provisions, praying to the Admiral to intercede along with his god on their behalf,” based on an account by Columbus’ son Ferdinand.
Extra assets
In case you have a budding astronomer at house who desires to be taught extra about eclipses take a look at Solar and Lunar Eclipses (Explore Outer Space) (opens in new tab) by Ruth Owen or check out NASA’s Area Place webpage on the several types of moons.
Bibliography
Okay. G. Strassmeier et al “Excessive-resolution spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry of the total lunar eclipse January 2019,” Astronomy & Astrophysics, Quantity 653, March 2020, https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201936091 (opens in new tab)
Pure Historical past Museum, “Lunar eclipse guide: what they are, when to see them and where (opens in new tab),” Could 27, 2021.
Royal Museums Greenwich, “How to see a lunar eclipse (opens in new tab),” January, 2022.
Jessica Marshallsay, “Blood moon rising: How lunar eclipses might help us find life on other planets (opens in new tab),” The College of Queensland, January, 2022.
