An extraterrestrial phenomenon – a rare “super blood blue moon” will be witnessed on the 31st of January in parts of North America, Asia, Middle East, Russia and Australia, after about 36 years.
This event is generating a wave of excitement because It combines three unusual lunar events – an extra big super moon, a blue moon and a total lunar eclipse. It’s an astronomical trifecta.
A blue moon refers to the second full moon in a month. Generally, a blue moon occurs every two years and eight months. This blue moon is third in a series of Supermoons which happen when the moon is closest to the Earth while orbiting it. The moon will appear 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter.
During the eclipse, the moon will descend into Earth’s shadow, slowly changing its white light to orange or red. The red light comes when the sunlight gets refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere and continues on through space to the moon.
This alignment of Sun, Moon and Earth will last for about 1 hour and 16 minutes. Unlike a solar eclipse, this lunar eclipse can be viewed safely without protective eyewear. NASA said the eclipse will offer scientists a chance to see what happens when the surface of the moon cools quickly.
