Celestial treat for sky gazers

Chennai: In a rare celestial treat, sky gazers can witness a triple treat – a blue moon, a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse all rolled into one on Wednesday evening.

The blood moon or lunar eclipse occurs because the Earth is passing between the Moon and the Sun in a straight line. The moon will come in the Earth’s shadow, giving the moon a reddish colour due to the light bending around the Earth’s atmosphere.

“The second full moon of the month is called the blue moon. Since the moon is coming closer to the Earth, it is also called super moon and this is a rare event”, said P.Iyamperumal, executive director, Tamil Nadu Science and Technology centre.

The eclipse will be visible throughout India, most of North America, eastern Asia, Australia and the Pacific Ocean. The blue moon and lunar eclipse last occurred on March 31, 1866. The next event will occur on December 31, 2028.

“The lunar eclipse will occur from 5.18 pm to 8.41 pm. In Tamil Nadu, the moon rising time is 6.04 pm and from that time we can witness this celestial event,” he said.

The moon which will pass the Earth at the distance of 3,64,507 km will appear 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than the normal full moon.

Lunar eclipses can be viewed without telescopes, from an open space. The Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre has made arrangements for public viewing at Birla Planetarium in Gandhi Mandapam Road in Kotturpuram.

Tamil Nadu Science Forum has arranged for the public viewing at over 100 places all over the state including schools and colleges.

“We have made arrangements for the public and enthusiasts to view the lunar eclipse at Thiruvanmiyur beach in Chennai from 6 pm to 9 pm. Scientists and academicians will explain to the public about the celestial event with telescopes and binoculars”, said Udhayan, state secretary, Tamil Nadu Science Forum.
Another total eclipse of the Moon can be seen from India on the night of 27th July 2018 to early hours of 28th July 2018.

What is a blue moon?

The second full moon of the month is called the blue moon. The term once in a Blue Moon means that something is rare. Blue Moons happen once every two or three years. In 2018, there are two Full Moons in both January and March. Double Blue Moons happen only about 3 to 5 times in a century. The next year that has two months with two Full Moons each will be 2037.