You’ve probably heard of a Full Moon but how about a Blood Moon or a Blue Moon (No, not the song… or the beer)?
This January 31st you will have the opportunity to see something even more spectacular, a Blue Blood Moon. The last time a Blue Blood Moon was recorded was in the eastern hemisphere in 1982 and in the western hemisphere in 1866.
Photo Credit: Flickr | Dany_M
TravelSmart Fun Fact: Blue Moons are not as rare as the common phrase “once in a blue moon” implies; Blue Moons actually occur approximately once every 2 to 3 years.
What makes the Blue Blood Moon so special?
This lunar phenomenon is two supermoons happening at the same time in the same month which is very rare. This is the first time in more than 150 years that the three lunar events will coincide, according to a statement from NASA. First to occur is the super moon. This happens because the moon is orbiting closer than usual to the earth, so it appears slightly bigger and brighter than an ordinary full moon.
Now in regards to the Blue Moon well that has less to do with the color and actually more to do with the long gap between appearances. The blue moon only comes into view every 2 and a half years. The term is normally used to refer to a total lunar eclipse although this time it will have a blue-ish hue for a bit.
So, what about the moon turning red?
Interestingly the red color will happen due to the total lunar eclipse but because it will also be close to the earth it will look bigger and with red tones due to the Earth blocking the sun but not the light. What this means is that the sun’s rays will still reach the moon but only by traveling through the atmosphere of the Earth which will give it a reddish color. This same mechanism is the reason that we can enjoy breathtaking sunrises and sunsets while sitting on the beach with our toes in the sand or after hiking to the top of a lush green mountain.
