After the Total Solar Eclipse in 2017 it is time to witness not only the blue moon, but also a super moon and total lunar eclipse, all together, 'a wonderful combination.' One of the rarest phenomenon that has not been seen since 1982 and you will not be lucky enough to witness this until 2037.
What is 'Super Blue Blood Moon'?
A blue moon is the second full moon in a month and the moon is on a 28-day cycle so that once in a blue moon.
Super moon is when a moon appears slightly bigger in size and brighter as compared to normal days because it is closer to earth.
According to NASA's Ames Reasearch Centre the moon can "appear 17% largest than it does at its furthest point in its orbit. "
Now, total Lunar Eclipse is the phenomenon when earth comes exactly between the moon and the sun. The earth's shadow falls on the moon. The moon looks red in colour and slightly brighter than normal. This is because when Earth casts it's shadow on moon, some of the sunlight reaches the moon after getting refracted through the earth's atmosphere and reaches the moon. This phenomenon makes the moon glow red or takes down a low brown shade which is known as blood moon.
Most interesting part of today's Total Lunar Eclipse is that the occurrence of all the three events together.
Where to see it?
US, Alaska,Hawaii, and British Columbia total lunar eclipse will be able to witness at least some portion of the eclipse. The eclipse will begin at 5:51 AM EST, which is 4:21 PM IST and set at 11:08 AM EST or 9:38 PM IST.
However, the occurrence of the event shall be easier to see in the Central time zone because the moon will be higher in the sky when the eclipse begins. The red shadow will be observable by 6:15 a.m. ET. In Mountain time, the peak will be at around 6:30.
(Global map showing areas of the world that will experience (weather permitting) the Jan. 31, 2018, "super blue blood moon." Photo Credits: NASA)
Why is it important for the scientist?
Scientists get rare opportunities annually to take various measurements on moon's surface and this one is an chance not to miss.
A lunar day is almost 28 earth days long and moon has a gradual process of cahnging the temperature but when we have a total eclipse the sun suddenly moves from directly overhead to being drak. This sudden change is tenperature can help us get a real sudden tepmerature change. and this shall help scientists to get clues of how differnt types of materials on the moon will heat up and cool down differently.
The occurence of this event shall help the NASA scientists to work on the plans to send a rover to one of the moon's poles.
If you are unable to see the moon from wherever you are NASA shall be livestreaming the event on NASA.gov/live
