BLOOD MOON
1. Context
For the second time this year, the moon will glow red in a total lunar eclipse also called Full Beaver Blood Moon, on November 8, 2022. The previous total lunar eclipse happened in May.
2. Key Points
- Stargazers should look out for the eclipse, as the next "Blood Moon" will not be visible until 2025.
- People in eastern Asia, Australia, the Pacific and North America should be able to view at least a portion of the phenomenon.
- The eclipse will begin at 2.39 PM Indian Standard Time (IST) with the total eclipse starting at 3.46 PM IST.
- Totality the stage when the moon is fully in the Earth's shadow will end at 5.12 PM IST and the partial phase of the eclipse will end at 6.19 PM IST.
- In India, the phase of the beginning of the totality will not be seen anywhere.
- The eastern states can catch a glimpse of the red hue in the "totality ending" phase.
Image Source: NASA
3. Lunar Eclipse
- A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon, Earth and Sun align with Earth casting a complete shadow over the moon.
- When the moon passes through the darkest part of the shadow called the umbra, it's known as a total lunar eclipse.
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The red colour of the moon occurs because of the refraction, filtering and scattering of light by Earth's atmosphere.
When the sun's rays reach the Earth, much of the blue and green light is scattered, while the orange and red colours remain visible.
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4. Rayleigh Scattering
- The scattering is a phenomenon called Rayleigh Scattering named after the 19th-century British physicist John William Strutt also known as Lord Rayleigh which also causes sunrises and sunsets.
- This gives the moon a reddish hue, leading to the name Blood Moon.
| A November eclipse is called Beaver Moon because it happens during the month when beavers begin taking shelter in their lodges. |
5. Moon's perspective during a lunar eclipse
- Astronauts on the Moon during a total lunar eclipse would see a red ring around a silhouetted Earth, Mitzi Adams, an astrophysicist at Marshall Space Flight Center, said in a NASA statement.
- No special eye protection is needed for viewing a lunar eclipse, unlike solar eclipses (Which occur during the daytime).
- While the lunar eclipse can be observed with the unaided eye, a pair of binoculars or a telescope can enhance the view.
For Prelims
| For Prelims: Lunar Eclipse, Blood Moon, Beaver Moon, Rayleigh Scattering |
Source: Down to Earth
