Millions could catch a glimpse of rare ‘Blood Moon’
Millions are in for a treat as a blood moon graces the skies this week and will be visible for most of the country, even without the use of special equipment.
Residents from Sydney to Perth will be able to catch a glimpse of the full lunar eclipse on Monday morning – a phenomenon that won’t return until 2028.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.A total lunar eclipse occurs when the earth blocks light from the sun, in what otherwise would be a full moon.
“When the moon is fully inside the earth’s atmosphere, only really the red light manages to hit it, and that’s why it looks red,” Sydney University School of Physics astronomer Laura Driessen told NewsWire.
Unlike a partial lunar eclipse, where it looks like a bite has been taken out of the moon, a total eclipse has a partial phase before and after the total phase.
While the phenomenon occurs “every year or two” across the planet, Australian residents will only be able to catch a glimpse of the blood moon on Monday morning and again in March before it returns at the “very end of 2028”.
“So this is actually the last chance for everyone in Australia to see it for a few years,” Dr Driessen told NewsWire.
“If you wanna see a lunar eclipse, it’s definitely gonna be the best one for everyone in Australia until the end of 2028.”
Sydney University professor Tim Bedding told NewsWire the blood moon would be visible for the entire country, as long as the skies are clear.
Residents in the eastern states can watch the blood moon in the early hours of Monday morning, with the peak of the blood moon coming in to effect between 3.30am and 6am Monday.
Central states will be able to see the partial eclipse 30 minutes earlier, and western states will be able to spot the blood moon two hours earlier.
“For those in the eastern states, they will not see the last part of the eclipse because the Moon will set and the Sun will rise before it ends,” Dr Bedding said.
“But they will still have a good view, provided it is not cloudy.”
Though the blood moon will still be visible in metro areas with light pollution, for those itching to catch a glimpse, he recommended finding a “dark area without street lights”.
“Better yet, get away from the city,” he said.
Originally published as Millions could catch a glimpse of rare ‘Blood Moon’
