The Blood Moon

Have you ever seen a blood moon? I saw one last week Thursday, the 8th of December 2022. It was a full reddish full moon. When I browsed the internet I discovered it is also known as a lunar eclipse, and is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the moon passes into the Earth’s shadow, causing it to appear reddish in color. This effect is usually caused by the way that sunlight passing through the Earth’s atmosphere is scattered, casting a reddish glow on the moon. Makes more sense when you picture the difference in the appearance of your room at night when you use the white bulb versus when you use the colored bulb.

Blood moons are a fascinating and beautiful sight to behold, and they have been observed and studied by astronomers for centuries. In recent years, there have been several notable instances of blood moons, including the “super blood moon” of September 27, 2015, which was visible across much of the Americas, and the “super blue blood moon” of January 31, 2018, which was visible across North America, South America, and parts of Europe and Asia.

During a blood moon, the moon can appear to be a deep, reddish color, and it is often said to have a eerie and otherworldly appearance. A lot of myths have been constructed around this phenomenum. Of course we know it is due to the way the light from the sun is refracted and scattered by the Earth’s atmosphere, creating a reddish hue on the moon’s surface.

Despite their eerie appearance, blood moons are a completely natural and safe phenomenon. They occur when the moon passes directly behind the Earth and into its shadow, and they are visible from anywhere on the night side of the Earth.

If you want to see a blood moon for yourself, the best time to look is during a total lunar eclipse, when the moon is completely immersed in the Earth’s shadow. These events are relatively rare, but they can be predicted and observed from any location on the Earth with clear skies.

Overall, blood moons are a fascinating and beautiful aspect of our natural world, and they offer a unique opportunity for people to learn more about the moon and its relationship with the Earth. So the next time you hear about a blood moon, be sure to take a moment to appreciate this amazing natural phenomenon and take clear pictures like I did.

Last week’s blood moon happened to be the second this year. However, it was said to be full to some parts of the world, partial and penumbral to the other parts. This red beauty usually lasts for thirty minutes to a couple hours. You can see one form wherever you are in the world every two years.

So next year whenever it’s a full moon watch out it could be a blood moon or not.