- The Blood Moon Explained
- The Blood Moon Explained
THIS evening, our night will be a little darker, with the second lunar eclipse this year taking place. It’s known as the ‘blood moon’.
Eclipses occur when the Earth is perfectly lined up between the moon and the sun. Tonight’s eclipse will turn the moon into a bright red glow. This will happen because the light the moon usually reflects from the sun being blocked by the earth.
This phenomena is known as a ‘blood moon’, and while the science above is simple enough to explain it, two Christian pastors have claimed the blood moon is a sign that Judgement Day is coming. They say that their claim is further backed up by the fact both solar eclipses each year fall on significant Jewish holidays Passover and Sukkot.
For a scientific view, however, Dr Alan Duffy, an astronomer at Swinburne University of Technology, said that there are three key aspects to the blood moon.
“The eclipse begins with a shadow slowly appearing on the surface of the Moon. Over the next hour more of the Moon will be covered until eventually it lies directly behind the Earth away from the Sun,” Dr Duffy said.
“At this point the Moon should be blacked-out but it will actually appear blood red. This colour is from all the sunrises and sunsets of Earth shining onto the Moon.
“The phase of totality with a red moon lasts for an hour, before the Moon begins to leave the umbra and the series of events reverses over the course of the final hour.”
Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse like this one is safe to watch without any eye protection, so all you will have to do to see it is look up. If you’re stuck inside though,Slooh has a lifestream for you to watch online.
WHEN TO WATCH (local times):
NSW/ACT/VIC/TAS: Eclipse begins 8.15pm, total eclipse 9.25pm-10.25pm, eclipse ends 11.35pm.
QLD: Eclipse begins 7.15pm, total eclipse 8.25pm-9.25pm, eclipse ends 10.35pm.
SA: Eclipse starts 7.45pm, total eclipse 8.55pm-9.55pm, eclipse ends 11.05pm.
NT: Eclipse starts 6.45pm, total eclipse 7.55pm-8.55pm, eclipse ends 10.05pm.
WA: Moon rises at 6.19pm, total eclipse 6.25pm-7.25pm, eclipse ends 8.35pm.
A picture of the last blood moon from April this year. Source: News Corp Australia
THIS evening, our night will be a little darker, with the second lunar eclipse this year taking place. It’s known as the ‘blood moon’.
Eclipses occur when the Earth is perfectly lined up between the moon and the sun. Tonight’s eclipse will turn the moon into a bright red glow. This will happen because the light the moon usually reflects from the sun being blocked by the earth.
This phenomena is known as a ‘blood moon’, and while the science above is simple enough to explain it, two Christian pastors have claimed the blood moon is a sign that Judgement Day is coming. They say that their claim is further backed up by the fact both solar eclipses each year fall on significant Jewish holidays Passover and Sukkot.
For a scientific view, however, Dr Alan Duffy, an astronomer at Swinburne University of Technology, said that there are three key aspects to the blood moon.
“The eclipse begins with a shadow slowly appearing on the surface of the Moon. Over the next hour more of the Moon will be covered until eventually it lies directly behind the Earth away from the Sun,” Dr Duffy said.
“At this point the Moon should be blacked-out but it will actually appear blood red. This colour is from all the sunrises and sunsets of Earth shining onto the Moon.
“The phase of totality with a red moon lasts for an hour, before the Moon begins to leave the umbra and the series of events reverses over the course of the final hour.”
Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse like this one is safe to watch without any eye protection, so all you will have to do to see it is look up. If you’re stuck inside though,Slooh has a lifestream for you to watch online.
WHEN TO WATCH (local times):
NSW/ACT/VIC/TAS: Eclipse begins 8.15pm, total eclipse 9.25pm-10.25pm, eclipse ends 11.35pm.
QLD: Eclipse begins 7.15pm, total eclipse 8.25pm-9.25pm, eclipse ends 10.35pm.
SA: Eclipse starts 7.45pm, total eclipse 8.55pm-9.55pm, eclipse ends 11.05pm.
NT: Eclipse starts 6.45pm, total eclipse 7.55pm-8.55pm, eclipse ends 10.05pm.
WA: Moon rises at 6.19pm, total eclipse 6.25pm-7.25pm, eclipse ends 8.35pm.
A picture of the last blood moon from April this year. Source: News Corp Australia
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