After 152 years, mankind witnesses Super Blue Blood Moon

A rare spectacle in the sky is appearing after 152 years on January 31. The Super Blue Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse, a rare coincidence of three different phases of the moon will be visible in most parts of Asia, North America and Australia.

LIVE NOW: Watch views of the #SuperBlueBloodMoon from multiple telescopes. Take a look: https://t.co/a5ScGDXhQu

— NASA (@NASA) January 31, 2018

What is a Lunar Eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, the moon and the earth align, with the moon appearing in the shadow of the earth. Every year, at least two lunar eclipses occur. But they aren't visible in all parts of the world at the same time.

All lunar eclipses fall during the full moon (every month, we have a full moon), but not all full moons are eclipses. Eclipses occur due to a 5-degree tilt in the orbit of the moon around the earth with respect to the orbit of the earth around the sun. 

Who cares about something that recurs every month? 

So the lining up of these three celestial bodies happens when the moon reaches any of the two nodes in the space. If it is a full moon day, it will be a lunar eclipse and if it is a dark moon, it will be a solar eclipse. 

Blue moon

A blue moon is nothing but the second full moon in the same calendar month.

Supermoon

The orbit of the moon is not a perfect round. It is ellipse-shaped and earth is in one of its' centres. Therefore the distance between earth and moon keeps changing. The closest distance is called perigee and longest is called apogee. Therefore we feel the moon is 14% bigger and 30 brighter during a full moon at perigee (moon’s shape never changes, it is just relative feeling for us) which we call a supermoon. 

The blood moon/red moon or copper moon

On 31st January, some rays from the sun will surpass earth’s atmosphere and reach the moon which would eventually be reflected back to the earth. The violet, blue and green rays in the sunlight which has lesser wavelength cannot complete this long journey. But the red and orange will successfully reach our eyes and we feel the moon has become reddish/’orangish’. 

When is it visible?

Though scientifically, the eclipse starts at 4.21 pm, we will not be able to see any difference in the moon. It enters the dark shadow of the earth (the penumbra) by 6.21 pm and the total eclipse begins which will be visible to us. It means the eclipse would be underway when the moon rises. The maximum eclipse is at 7.00 pm and the total eclipse will continue until 7.37 pm. The partial eclipse will be over by 9.38 pm.

What equipment is needed to watch it?

This is not a solar eclipse and hence we need no equipment to watch it. Get out of your home/office to a high-rise building or an open space at 6.30 pm and make yourself comfortable for the next one hour.

There is nothing harmful- no rays, no extra-terrestrial activities or reactions during this eclipse. Anyone can look at the moon with naked eyes. It is a great idea to get a binocular or telescope to view it closely. 

Don't pay any heed to people spreading fake messages about ‘harmful reactions’ of getting out of your home during the eclipse. If you don’t watch, you’ll miss it. Nothing else. 

In a move to popularise the event and spread scientific temper, the Government of Karnataka has asked the schools to encourage students to watch the eclipse.

Bengaluru celebrates

The Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium will host a public event where telescopes will be set up to give the public a closer view of the event.

Breakthrough Science Society Karnataka has planned for public viewing events across Karnataka. They have arranged for telescopes with assistance from their volunteers.

Here is a list of the places where you can catch it.

1) Government Model Primary School, Attiguppe Bus Stand, Bengaluru
2) Government Model School, 9th Main, Hosahalli, Vijayanagar, Bengaluru
3) Donkana Field, Shankarnag Circle, Hanumantha Nagar, Bengaluru
4) HMT grounds, RT Nagar, Bengaluru
5) New Oxford Public School, Rajajinagar, Bhashyam Circle, Bengaluru
6) KEB Quarters, Rajajinagar 3rd Block, Bengaluru
7) JP Park, Mathikere, Bengaluru
8) SBI Officers' Association Public School, SBI Colony, Basaveshwara Nagar, Bengaluru
9) Priyadarshini Vidya Kendra School Grounds, 6th Main, Kengeri Satellite Town, Bengaluru
10) High School Grounds, Davanagere
11) Vidya Nidhi PU College Grounds, Raichur
12) Opposite Central Bus Stand, Vijayapura
13) SBR School Grounds, Kalaburagi
14) Anjuman School, Dharwad
15) Sri Vasavi Vidya Samsthe, Chitradurga
16) Vidya Vilas Vidya Kendra, Chitradurga
17) Vishwamanava Vasathi Shale, Chitradurga
18) Sri. Nijalingappa Vidya Samsthe, Hosadurga
19) Taralabalu Vidya Samsthe, Mysuru
20) Sri Shakti Krupa, 2nd Cross, KEB Road, RV Colony, Tumkur.