The unusual ‘Blood Moon’ will light up the night sky on Thursday
On Thursday night, a rare total lunar eclipse, referred to as a “Blood Moon,” will cast a red glow across a large area of the world.
This heavenly show can be seen by skywatchers in the U.S., the Pacific and Atlantic areas, parts of Europe, and western Africa.
This phenomenon happens when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are perfectly aligned, resulting in a large shadow cast by our planet onto its satellite.
As Earth’s shadow slowly moves across the Moon, it does not entirely extinguish the Moon’s bright white glow. Rather, the Moon acquires a reddish tint.
Daniel Brown, an astronomer at Nottingham Trent University in the UK, explained to AFP that this occurs because the only sunlight reaching the Moon is “bent and scattered” while passing through Earth’s atmosphere.
He added that this is also why the sky can look pink or red at dawn and dusk on Earth.
Moreover, the Moon will take on a redder hue as the quantity of atmospheric dust and clouds increases.
An Engaging Perspective of the Solar System in Motion
The eclipse, lasting about six hours into Friday morning, is “a wonderful way to see the solar system in action,” according to Brown.
During the time of “totality,” when the Moon is entirely within Earth’s shadow, the duration will be slightly more than an hour.
The event is referred to as the “Blood Worm Moon,” a name derived from traditional Native American names for March’s full Moon.
When Can It Be Seen?
The Moon will begin to look as if a bite has been taken out of it, marking the start of the eclipse in North America at 1:09 AM Eastern Time (0509 GMT). Nasa states that totality will take place between 2:26 AM and 3:31 AM.
In France, as per the French Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculation, totality can be observed from 7:26 AM to 8:31 AM local time (0626-0731 GMT).
Nevertheless, only the extreme western regions of Europe, like Brittany in France, will have the opportunity to witness the complete eclipse before the Moon goes down.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, the situation will be inverted: only a partial eclipse will be visible as the Moon rises.
In the UK, although the weather forecast is not encouraging, Brown maintains his optimism, expressing his anticipation of “catching a glimpse of the Moon peeking through the clouds on the horizon.”
Disproving Fallacies Regarding the ‘Blood Moon’
Brown stated that he dislikes the term “Blood Moon” because it has negative connotations and is often associated with “misguided doomsday theories.”
Nonetheless, lunar eclipses have not been seen in a bad light by all cultures.
Some African traditions interpret lunar eclipses as a symbolic conflict between the Sun and the Moon, embodying the notion that humans can also settle their disputes and collaborate harmoniously.
Brown noted, “A lovely tale that holds great relevance for each of us at present.”
A solar eclipse is on the way.
This will mark the first total lunar eclipse since 2022, with another anticipated in September.
The website EarthSky states that Thursday’s eclipse will coincide with a “Micro Moon” event, indicating that the Moon will be at its maximum distance from Earth and will appear approximately seven percent smaller than usual.
This is contrary to a “Super Moon,” which was seen during the 2022 eclipse.
Sky watchers can look forward to more excitement later this month, as a partial solar eclipse will take place when the Moon partially obstructs the Sun’s rays from hitting Earth.
This solar eclipse can be seen on March 29 in eastern Canada, certain areas of Europe, northern Russia, and northwestern Africa.
Nonetheless, it is crucial to keep in mind that viewing a partial solar eclipse without eye protection is hazardous. It is advisable to use specialized eclipse glasses or a pinhole projector for safe observation, as per expert recommendations.
