How you can see rare lunar occasion
A RARE lunar event that turns earth’s moon blood red is set to grace Australian skies next week – and it may be the last time to view the spectacular sight for another three years.
Astrologers predict a blood moon will occur on November 8 – next Tuesday – and will be visible across the skies.
A blood moon occurs when the sun, earth and moon align in a perfect way, causing the moon to pass into the planet’s shadow.
Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker said this total lunar eclipse gave off a reddish hue to the moon’s surface.
“While the earth casts a shadow into space, a little bit of sunlight skims through the earth’s atmosphere and into space,” he said.
“Just as sunrise and sunset are an orange or reddish colour, so is this light that skims through the earth‘s atmosphere and out into space.”
He said next Tuesday would likely be the last chance to glimpse the rare spectacle until 2025.
Dr Tucker explained this was because the moon’s orbit was not in perfect alignment with the sun and the earth and, as such, only partial lunar eclipses were possible.
“The moon wobbles by about five degrees as it orbits around the earth,” he said.
Last year, a super blood moon – caused by a combination of a super moon, a total lunar eclipse and a pink moon event – was visible across Australian skies.
Next Tuesday’s blood moon can be visible with telescopes and binoculars.
BLOOD MOON VIEWING TIMES ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022 (all times PM):
QLD
Starts at 7.09, ends at 10.49. Total eclipse (when fully red) will last from 8.16 – 9.41.