Coming today: A super blue blood moon

[V.Balasubramani]

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A total lunar eclipse...
[h=1]Coming today: A super blue blood moon[/h][h=2]There hasn’t been a lunar trifecta like this in many years, and the next won’t occur in a hurry either.[/h]

A super moon during a lunar eclipse in Washington DC in 2015. (NASA via NYT)
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On Wednesday, much of the world, including India, will get to see not only a blue moon and a super moon, but also a total lunar eclipse, all rolled into one. There hasn’t been a lunar trifecta like this in many years, and the next won’t occur in a hurry either. The eclipse will be visible best in the western half of the US and Canada before the moon sets early Wednesday, and across the Pacific into Asia as the moon rises Wednesday night.

The coincidence of Wednesday’s blood moon with other astronomical events is what makes this event special. A blue moon means it is the second full moon to occur in a month; and a supermoon means it will be closer to the Earth than usual.

Blue and Blood

As is well known, “blue moon” is just a name — the moon won’t turn blue tomorrow (or at any other time). Rather, during the peak total phase of the lunar eclipse, it will have a reddish or coppery tinge. This is becaue even though the moon is in the shadow of the Earth, some light does reach it. Fine particles in the atmosphere scatter the blue component of the solar spectrum, and what reaches us is the longer wavelength red light.


Read more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/coming-today-a-super-blue-red-blood-moon-5045406/

 

[V.Balasubramani]

[h=1]Why Wednesday's Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse Is So Special[/h]

[h=1]Imagine going to a drive-thru and ordering the following: a blue moon, a supermoon, a blood moon and a total lunar eclipse. Although such a request is impossible (if only!), all four events are actually happening tomorrow (Jan. 31).
But what, exactly, are these four celestial treats? And how rare is it that skywatchers can view all of them on the same night?

For starters, it's extremely rare. A super-blue-blood-moon-and-total-lunar-eclipse combo hasn't happened in more than 150 years, Live Science previously reported. [Super Blue Blood Moon 2018: When, Where and How to See It]

Even separately, these events are rare. For instance, a blue moon happens when two full moons occur within the same calendar month. Normally, Earth has 12 full moons per year, which equates to one per month. But because the lunar month — the time between two new moons — averages 29.530589 days, which is shorter than most months (with the exception of February), some years have 13 full moons, Live Science previously reported.

Blue moons happen once every 2.7 years, which explains why the last one happened on July 31, 2015. But despite their name, blue moons don't actually appear blue. A bluish tint is only possible when smoke or ash from a large fire or volcanic eruption gets into the atmosphere. These fine particles can scatter blue light and make the moon appear blue.

Supermoons, however, are more common than blue moons. A supermoon happens when a full moon is at or near perigee, the point in the moon's monthly orbit when it's closest to Earth. Because they're marginally closer to Earth, supermoons can appear up to 14 percent larger and up to 30 percent brighter than regular full moons, Live Science previously reported.

The most recent supermoon happened this past New Year's Day, on Jan. 1, 2018. Because the upcoming full moon will be January's second full moon, it has earned the title of "blue moon."

Finally, the last two events — the total lunar eclipse and the blood moon — are linked. A total lunar eclipse can happen only when the sun, Earth and full moon are perfectly lined up, in that order. With this alignment, the full moon is completely covered in Earth's shadow.

Read more at: https://www.livescience.com/61570-super-blue-blood-moon-lunar-eclipse.html[/h]

 

[V.Balasubramani]

This rare eclipse was seen by people from their house terrace….. more gathered at sea shore to have a glimpse of this spectacular show.

Lunar Eclipse 2018 NASA's livestream: Watch rare super blue blood moon's spectacular show

India along with North America, Hawaii, the Middle East, Russia, and Australia have witnessed a rare cosmic show by moon today. For the stargazers, the moon was 360,200 kilometers away at the peak of the eclipse, close enough for super moon status.


It's the first time in 35 years a blue moon has synced up with a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse. In India, the eclipse was seen by the people of North-East between 4:21 PM and 5:18 PM.

Rest part of India got a glimpse of this Super Blue Blood moon between 5:18 PM and 6:21 PM. The west coast and parts of Rajasthan saw the celestial event from 6:21 PM to 7:37 PM.


Read more at:
//economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/62725934.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

 

[V.Balasubramani]

An experience mixed with superstitious, science and eclipse!


[h=1]Selfie with the moon: The lunar eclipse experience at Bengaluru’s Lalbagh[/h]

On the Lalbagh rock, we were surrounded by lots of thathas in mufflers and ajjis in sweater blouses, and fortunately, all the hipsters had gone elsewhere.

6.22 pm was the lunar eclipse, they said -- so a few friends and I went to Lalbagh Rock. People were eating kadlekai, puffed rice, cucumber (and the pineapple was over by the time I reached). I was glowing in the light of the fading sunset that framed the Kempegowda watchtower and joined the masses of people who had gathered to see the lunar eclipse.

I’d gotten late setting out but was surprised to see absolutely empty streets. The auto driver told me he had had no business all day because of the grahana; people were busy avoiding the moon, staying indoors, having baths and cleansing themselves.

It had been an unexpected day so far. I had woken up at 5.40 am and danced my way through the morning’s sunrise with a friend. I was quite chuffed to have had a good look at the sky right in the morning. There is something tingly and satisfying about the quality of the Bangalore sky in January solstice mornings and evenings.

On the Lalbagh rock, we were surrounded by lots of thathas in mufflers and ajjis in sweater blouses, and fortunately, all the hipsters had gone elsewhere. By 6.30 pm we were all a bit restive: we were standing and looking at the sky in an alarmed state of uncertainty. Would this blue moon plus super moon plus lunar eclipse that would not happen for another 150 years actually happen? The chitter chatter had a note of anxiety -- the sun has set, the sky is pink, where is this elusive moon that I am ready to write poetry to and photograph with my DSLR and look at with my Decathlon binoculars? Nowhere. What if India’s astrophysicists have it wrong? In Bangalore, even the moon cannot get anywhere on time.

Read more at: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/selfie-moon-lunar-eclipse-experience-bengaluru-s-lalbagh-75749

 

[dhikshita]

Someone explanied in TV programme that the full moon falls twice in a calander month that is on 1st January, and 31st January and as such there is no blue moon.!!. IS NOT THAT?

 

[V.Balasubramani]

Someone explanied in TV programme that the full moon falls twice in a calander month that is on 1st January, and 31st January and as such there is no blue moon.!!. IS NOT THAT?

It is reported that at Chennai people witnessed Super Blue Blood Moon at Birla Planetarium at Kotturpuram

[h=2]150 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு பின் நிகழ்ந்த சந்திர கிரகணத்தை காண பிர்லா கோளரங்கத்தில் அலைமோதிய மக்கள் கூட்டம்[/h]

Read more at: https://www.maalaimalar.com/News/To...du-People-Witnessed-Super-Blue-Blood-Moon.vpf