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A Super Rare Moon Phenomena That Last Happened Over 150 Years Ago Is Coming This Month
Mark your calendars and plan your nights because there is a super rare celestial show happening at the end of this month.
According to astrological calculations, we’ll be treated to a blue moon, a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse on the night of 31 January, as reported by The Star.
Just like the saying ‘once in a blue moon’, this three-in-one occasion is something very rare; so rare that the last time this phenomena occurred was more than 150 years ago in 1866!
In astronomy, a blue moon takes places when there are two full moons in a single calendar month. This only happens every two and a half years on average.
A supermoon is something we’re a bit more familiar with since we’ve experienced it before in 2016. This occurs when the moon is positioned close to Earth, making it appear a lot bigger and brighter than usual.As if a moon show is not enough, the skies decided to grant us an extra sighting of a total lunar eclipse at the same time. This is basically when the moon appears deep red in colour, making it look more like a blood moon.
So this means we're actually getting a blue blood moon!The experts have made it easy for us by calculating the exact timing when all three phenomena will happen, so be sure to get your cameras ready for this!
According to astronomer Shahrin Ahmad:
- First, the supermoon will occur from 7.19pm onwards.
- Half an hour later, the lunar eclipse will begin.
- At 8.51pm, a total lunar eclipse will take place, followed by a maximum eclipse at 9.29pm.
- The total eclipse will end at approximately 10.07pm.
You really wouldn’t want to miss this because this three-in-one night show will only happen again more than a decade later on 31 December 2028 and another decade later on 31 January 2037.
As for the supermoon, apparently the next sighting will be in January 2019. And after that, the blue moon will only be seen on 2 October 2020.
The next total lunar eclipse will happen on 27 July later this year.
This would be a good time to get off our TV and mobile screens for a couple of hours and enjoy this natural occurence instead, wouldn't it? Let's start the year right!
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