Prepare to look up at the night sky at the end of the month, as you might be able to witness an event that has not happened for 150 years. On January 31, millions of people around the globe will have the chance to witness a lunar eclipse, blue moon, and supermoon at the same time, or in other words, a Super Blue Blood-Moon.
The event is believed to have been last observed 152 years ago, to be exact in 1866.
So, if you are an astronomy lover, make sure to be in the right place to view this amazing and somewhat magical event.
The combination of events will make the moon appear much larger, brighter and with a different and unusual color in the sky,
In fact, the next full moon on January 31, will show off Earth’s natural satellite in such special conditions that they have not coincided in more than a century and a half.
It is the third in a series of ‘supermoons’ when the Moon is closest to Earth in its orbit, known as perigee, and Earth’s natural satellite will appear 14 percent brighter than usual, according to NASA.
In fact, NASA scientists are calling it a magical event.
It’s a magical event and Dr. Noah Petro, a planetary geologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center calls it a “collision of multiple lunar events. A lot of things are happening at once,” Petro said. “It’s a cool event.”
It also happens to coincide with the second full moon of the month, commonly known as “blue moon”.
In addition, the blue supermoon will pass through the shadow of the Earth to give viewers—located in the right place—a total lunar eclipse.
While the Moon is in the shadow of the Earth, it will take on a reddish hue, known as the “blood moon.”
However, once you break down everything that will occur on January 31 you’ll see we will be witnessing a Super Blue Blood Moon.
And despite the fact that the name of the event may sound somewhat catchy, the “blue” portion of the name of this event has more to do with the idea that there are two full moons in the same month and not much, or at all to do with the moon turning blue.
This map shows the areas of visibility for the upcoming “super blue blood moon” eclipse of Jan. 31, 2018.
Credit: NASA
For observers in North America, Alaska or Hawaii, the eclipse will be visible before dawn on January 31.
For those in the Middle East, Asia, Eastern Russia, Australia and New Zealand, the “supermoon of blue blood” can be seen during the moonrise on the morning of the 31st.
In Western Europe and most of Africa and South America, the phenomenon will be partial since these will be areas not affected by the eclipse.
Now that you know where the events will be best observed from, hope for good weather and clear skies.
