Rare ‘super blood blue moon’ visible on Jan. 31

Context:

  • A cosmic event not seen in 36 years — a rare “super blood blue moon” — may be glimpsed January 31 in parts of western North America, Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Australia. The event is causing a buzz because it combines three unusual lunar events — an extra big super moon, a blue moon and a total lunar eclipse.

A blue moon:

  • A blue moon refers to the second full moon in a month.
  • Typically, a blue moon happens every two years and eight months.
  • This full moon is also the third in a series of “supermoons,” which happen when the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit.
  • This point, called the perigee, makes the moon appear 14% larger and 30% brighter.
  • During the eclipse, the moon will glide into Earth’s shadow, gradually turning the white disk of light to orange or red.
  • That red light you see is sunlight that has skimmed and bent through Earth’s atmosphere and continued on through space to the moon.
  • In other words, it’s from all the sunrises and sunsets that ring the world at the moment.

The alignment:

  • The alignment of the sun, moon and Earth will last one hour and 16 minutes. Those in the Middle East, Asia, eastern Russia, Australia and New Zealand should look for it in the evening, as the moon rises.
  • Unlike a solar eclipse, this lunar eclipse can be safely viewed without protective eyewear.

A complete lunar cover-up:

  • The last time a complete lunar cover-up took place on the second full moon of the month was December 30, 1982, at least as reckoned by local time in Europe, Africa, and western Asia — locations where the event could be seen.
  • That event also occurred at the moon’s orbital perigee, making it an extra bright supermoon.
  • The last time a supermoon, blue moon and total lunar eclipse all together were visible from the eastern United States was on May 31, 1844.
  • The last blue moon total lunar eclipse visible from North America happened on March 31, 1866.

Other Facts:

  • Lunar eclipses during a supermoon happen rather regularly. The last one was in September 2015.
  • Lunar eclipses occur at least twice a year.
  • Supermoons can happen four to six times a year.
  • The next supermoon lunar eclipse visible throughout all of the United States will be January 21, 2019—though that one will not be a blue moon.

Source:TH

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