First Lunar Event of its Kind in North America in 150 Years
So, what exactly is a Super Blue Blood Moon? It’s a convergence of three distinct lunar events: a lunar eclipse, which produces a blood moon, occurring with the second full moon of the month, also known as a blue moon. To cap it off, the eclipse will occur exactly at the same time the moon is closest to the Earth in its orbit, creating a supermoon.
“During a lunar eclipse, all direct light from the sun onto the moon is blocked by the Earth,” said Dr. Doug Roberts, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Chief Technology Officer. “The remaining light that filters through our atmosphere is reddened, thus coining the name blood moon.” Dr. Roberts continues, “Although the moon won’t actually look noticeably larger or blue, this is still a great opportunity to get out and reconnect with our closest cosmic neighbor.”
Set your alarms early because the total lunar eclipse will begin at 6:51 AM (CST) on Wednesday morning, and don’t worry, unlike a solar eclipse, no special viewing devices are necessary to experience the lunar eclipse. Dr. Roberts elaborates, “Lunar eclipses are great events because they are easily and safety viewed by large numbers of people – basically, if the moon is above the horizon and weather permits, you just have to remember to get up at the right time to observe it.” Dr. Roberts suggests, “Get up between 5:48 AM and 7:27 AM on Wednesday morning, and look to the west to see the lunar eclipse. It will start as a partial eclipse and will move into a total lunar eclipse.”
The Museum was established in 1941, is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute. Anchored by its rich collections, the Museum is dedicated to lifelong learning. It engages guests through creative, vibrant programs and exhibits interpreting science and the history of Texas and the Southwest. For more information, visit www.fortworthmuseum.org.
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