Blood Moon Rising
First “Blood Moon / Supermoon” eclipse in 33 years:
Sunday Sept. 27, 2015; from about 6:40pm to 9:30pm — Los Angeles
Stargazers get pumped - the first
“blood moon / supermoon" eclipse for 33 years takes place early Sunday evening, in Los Angeles.
The sight of the moon appearing to swell by 14 per cent and turning blood red is seriously worth watching.
Drive somewhere high and away and watch this phenom. Besides being amazing, it won’t happen again until 2033.
Photo credit: goldenwolf95.deviantart.com
Here’s all you need to know:
WHEN IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN? - In Los Angeles, this will be seen
Sunday Sept. 27, 2015 from about 6:40pm to 9:30pm.
This eclipse will be in progress during moonset.
Local times for eclipse in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, 2015:
Event Time Direction Altitude Comments
Moonrise 6:40 PM 89° 0.0° below Below horizon
Total Eclipse begins 7:11 PM 93° 5.8° Completely red moon. - Moon close to horizon
Maximum Eclipse 7:47 PM 98° 12.9° Moon is closest to the center of the shadow.
Total Eclipse ends 8:23 PM 103° 20.0° Total moon eclipse ends.
Partial Eclipse ends 9:27 PM 113° 32.4° Partial moon eclipse ends.
WHAT IS A SUPERMOON ECLIPSE?
Two elements will make up Sunday evening’s breathtaking sight in the skies.
A supermoon occurs when the full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth - which makes it seem 14 per cent larger than usual.
This is called perigee. When the moon is at perigee, (closest to the Earth), there is much more gravitational pull which contributes to higher tides or greater variation in the high and low tide, and it looks bigger than normal.
Photo credit: MORRIS MADURO, UC RIVERSIDE
For those who want to sound well-versed in these things, Sunday’s lunar event is a full moon at perigee with a lunar eclipse.
A lunar eclipse is when the moon falls under the shadow of the Earth and stops reflecting back light from the sun. As the eclipse progresses, sunlight starts to reach the moon indirectly and is refracted around the “edges” of Earth.
As all colors except red are filtered out, it means the eclipsed moon appears reddish - giving it the nickname “blood moon”.
WHEN WAS THE LAST SUPERMOON ECLIPSE?
It took place 33 years ago in 1982, when Ronald Reagan was President (US), Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister (UK), construction on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was begun, the word "Internet" was first used, CDs were introduced, MS DOS was first licensed, and Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands then surrendered when the UK’s Royal Navy and RAF took them back.
It won’t happen again until 2033 - that’s another 18 years, so don’t miss this one.
O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!...
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
Psalm 8:1-4
