Skip to main content

What's the Super Blue Blood Moon? The Rare Event Explained


The new year has just begun, but it’s already gracing stargazers with some seriously loony lunar activity, and it’s only going to get better.

On January 31, there will be a super blue blood moon; try saying that three times fast. This seriously rare event is actually the crossover of three individual lunar occurrences happening at the same exact time. So if you’re lucky enough to witness the super blue blood moon you’ll be seeing a trifecta of interactions the moon has with the earth and the sun.

Let’s break this down and explain what exactly will make the moon super, blue, and blood on this day.

The supermoon rises behind Glastonbury Tor on September 28.
The supermoon rises behind Glastonbury Tor on September 28.

What makes it super?

A supermoon occurs when the moon’s perigee — the point in its orbit that it is nearest to the earth — coincides with a full moon. The moon orbits our planet on an elliptical path, so there’s a point in its journey that it gets especially up close and personal with the earth. During this time, it appears to be larger than usual from our point of view making it seem ever-so-slightly more “super.”

The second supermoon of the month will be happening on January 30 and 31. The moon will reach its perigee at around 4:54 A.M. Eastern and will be 223,069 miles from Earth, according to EarthSky.org.

What makes it blue?

Unfortunately, the moon won’t be glowing a bright shade of blue. A blue moon is just a name for when two full moon occur within the same calendar month. So there should be, on average, one full moon a month. However, once every 2.7 years there’s a month with an extra fully lit luna. This is where the saying, “once in a blue moon,” comes from as blue moons don’t happen all that often.

The first full moon already took place on the night of January 1 and the universe is gifting us a second on the last day of the month.

What makes it “blood”?

While the super blue blood moon won’t be shining any shade of azure, it will take on a coppery-reddish glow on January 31. Now, the blood moon isn’t a scientific term but it describes the color the moon takes on when it undergoes a total eclipse.

During a total lunar eclipse the earth is in between the sun and the moon, this means the moon is not receiving direct sunlight from the sun. Instead the only light you see is refracted through earth’s atmosphere, giving it a red tinge. Because of this colorful effect people sometimes call a lunar eclipse a blood moon.

All three of these phenomena will be occurring at the same time at the end of January, giving the super blue blood moon its compound name.

The eclipse will begin at around 6:48 A.M. Eastern or 3:48 A.M. Pacific. Stargazers on the West coast will have an easier time catching a glimpse of this rare occurrence, but if East coasters are able to get a high vantage point overlooking the Western horizon they could get a good view.

Keep those telescopes close by — January is going to be stellar.

Hello! You've made it to the end of the article. Nice. Here's a related video you might like: "Nasa Explains How to Safely Watch a Solar Eclipse"

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why sexting is something you should definitely do in a relationship

Image
Cristiano Babin/Getty I Although some people make it seem like sexting is something new and unique to the digital age, the art of sending steamy messages to a sexual partner is centuries old. It’s just a hell of a lot easier these days to contact someone and also, if you’re so inclined, share a hot pic or video. Talking dirty when you’re far away from a partner doesn’t have to be embarrassing, and you shouldn’t feel any shame about doing it. Actually, it’s our humble belief that  sexting is something you should totally do  (you know, assuming you’re into it) to keep your relationship interesting. Not that it’s not already interesting! But if things are  lagging in the bedroom , sexting can be a great way to spice things up and show your partner that you’re still digging them, even if sometimes you’re a little too tired at the end of the day to have IRL sex. And you’re  still in the “honeymoon phase”  and want to keep it that way,  sexting is a great way to do it .
Read more

‘It’s all about relationships and being that positive role model for the kids that need us the most’

MANCHESTER, NH  – Memorial High School Principal Arthur L. Adamakos said this past school year by far has been the most challenging in his 41-year-career with the Manchester School District. Adamakos this week reflected on his career with the Manchester School District now that his June 30th retirement is in sight. The COVID-19 pandemic upended the school year, resulting in remote learning since March and the cancellation of proms, award ceremonies and class trips.  And there is still no word on how the city’s four high schools will celebrate graduations. “My goal is to have a physical graduation, not a virtual one,” he said.  “That’s what I have been campaigning for.  Still, we’re going to have to practice social distancing.”  And administrators must figure out how to deliver diplomas.  “That could be interesting so there’s a lot to be discussed.  It’s in progress,” he said. It is important for the seniors but Adamakos is looking forward to it as well.  After all, a retiring educator’
Read more

Many romantic relationships are actually doing fine under coronavirus lockdown, study finds

If you’ve been holding your breath, waiting for your relationship to crumble under coronavirus lockdown, well, take a breath. Maybe it won’t. A new poll suggests that Americans might not be headed for the coronavirus divorce spike that China has seen, and many Portland-area residents agree that their relationships are stronger than ever. A new national Monmouth University poll of people currently in a romantic relationship found the “vast majority” report that mostly their relationships have stayed the same as before the pandemic upended normal life. According to the findings, of Americans who are in romantic relationships, “59% say they are extremely satisfied with that relationship and 33% are very satisfied. Another 4% are somewhat satisfied and just 1% are either not too or not at all satisfied.” That “extremely satisfied” number is very close to previous national polls -- 57% in 2017 and 58% in 2014. The type of relationship also matters -- 64% of married partners are extremely sa
Read more