Rare super blood moon today
A rare astronomical phenomenon on Sunday night will produce a moon that will appear slightly bigger than usual and have a reddish hue, an event known as a super blood moon.
It's a combination of curiosities that hasn't happened since 1982, and won't happen again until 2033.A so-called supermoon, which occurs when the moon is closest to earth in its orbit, will coincide with a lunar eclipse, leaving the moon in earth's shadow. Individually, the two phenomena are not uncommon, but they do not align often.
Most people are unlikely to detect the larger size of the supermoon. It may appear 14% larger and 30% brighter, but the difference is subtle to the plain eye. "You're basically seeing all of the sunrises and sunsets across the world, all at once, being reflected off the surface of the moon," said Dr Sarah Noble, a program scientist at NASA.
No special equipment is required to see the blood moon and it is safe to watch it with a naked eye. For those unable to watch the phenomena because of bad weather or because it is not visible in their areas, can watch it on the Slooh Community Observatory network that will livestream the eclipse from several continents.Also, NASA TV will be giving the live feed of the Blood Moon.
Dr Noble said such events tend to get more people interested in astronomy, as it creates an opportunity to take kids outside and get them looking up at the sky . "It leads to conversations about what else is up there," she said.
MOON-Y FACTS
Why does it happen?
As the earth casts its shadows and the sun's light hits all around its limb, the atmosphere glows red. This red glow illuminates the surface of the moon. According to NASA, "the exact color depends on what's floating around in earth's atmosphere"
Why is this one so special?
For the first ever time in the 30 years, people in most of the part of the globe will witness the supermoon in combination with a total lunar eclipse. The next one happens in 2033. Also, this total lunar eclipse is the fourth and final eclipse in a series of four called the lunar tetrad
Where will it be visible?
The lunar eclipse will last an hour and 12 minutes and will be visible in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and parts of West Asia and the eastern Pacific. The earth's shadow will begin to dim the supermoon, beginning at 8.11 pm EDT (5.41 am IST on Sept 28)
A rare astronomical phenomenon on Sunday night will produce a moon that will appear slightly bigger than usual and have a reddish hue, an event known as a super blood moon.
It's a combination of curiosities that hasn't happened since 1982, and won't happen again until 2033.A so-called supermoon, which occurs when the moon is closest to earth in its orbit, will coincide with a lunar eclipse, leaving the moon in earth's shadow. Individually, the two phenomena are not uncommon, but they do not align often.
Most people are unlikely to detect the larger size of the supermoon. It may appear 14% larger and 30% brighter, but the difference is subtle to the plain eye. "You're basically seeing all of the sunrises and sunsets across the world, all at once, being reflected off the surface of the moon," said Dr Sarah Noble, a program scientist at NASA.
No special equipment is required to see the blood moon and it is safe to watch it with a naked eye. For those unable to watch the phenomena because of bad weather or because it is not visible in their areas, can watch it on the Slooh Community Observatory network that will livestream the eclipse from several continents.Also, NASA TV will be giving the live feed of the Blood Moon.
Dr Noble said such events tend to get more people interested in astronomy, as it creates an opportunity to take kids outside and get them looking up at the sky . "It leads to conversations about what else is up there," she said.
MOON-Y FACTS
Why does it happen?
As the earth casts its shadows and the sun's light hits all around its limb, the atmosphere glows red. This red glow illuminates the surface of the moon. According to NASA, "the exact color depends on what's floating around in earth's atmosphere"
Why is this one so special?
For the first ever time in the 30 years, people in most of the part of the globe will witness the supermoon in combination with a total lunar eclipse. The next one happens in 2033. Also, this total lunar eclipse is the fourth and final eclipse in a series of four called the lunar tetrad
Where will it be visible?
The lunar eclipse will last an hour and 12 minutes and will be visible in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and parts of West Asia and the eastern Pacific. The earth's shadow will begin to dim the supermoon, beginning at 8.11 pm EDT (5.41 am IST on Sept 28)
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