Blood Red Lunar Eclipse happened on 1st Good Friday, April 3, 33 AD
Technology today is vindicating ancient records like never before. Historians including NASA now agree April 3, 33 AD was the original good Friday.
According to Matthew’s Gospel 33:45 there was unprecedented darkness from 12-3 p.m. (that’s high noon) across the land before Christ expired on the cross.
Thanks to astronomy software, we can now see the Moon went into a full eclipse behind the horizon at the same time and after rose as a blood red over the Jerusalem sky.
Check out The Star of Bethlehem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex mbuX1NffU (starting at the 49 minute mark) for details.
The people at the time must have been frightened at these as lunar eclipses were signs of omens.
Christians rest their entire faith on the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the Apostle Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:14 “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain”.
The lunar eclipse is an event which is provable by physical evidence and while the resurrection was just as visible at the time it has no scientific explanation.
The Report of Pilate (then Roman governor of Judea), a New Testament Apocryphal fragment agrees with prophecy "Jesus was delivered to him by Herod, Archelaus, Philip, Annas, Caiphas, and all the people.
At his crucifixion the Sun was darkened; the stars appeared and in all the world people lighted lamps from the sixth hour till evening; the Moon appeared like blood."
Science generally cannot explain the supernatural because there’s rarely empirical evidence for its technicalities. So why do Christians believe this? Simply by faith.
As Paul defines faith in Hebrews 11:1 as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Meaning it’s real and not a fairy tale.
Sky watch for the next month:
1. Pre-Dawn Moon, Jupiter, Saturn & Mars- On Tuesday April 14 to Thursday 16 look SE after 4:30 a.m. and you’ll see these four as the Sun rises.
2. Waxing Crescent Moon in the beehive- On Thursday, April 30 after dusk look SW as the pair hang together before setting in the NW around 3:30 a.m.
3. Venus at it’s brightest- On Monday, April 27 look West before dusk as it’ll shine before sunset at magnitude -4.7.
4. Lyrids Meteor Shower- also known as April shooting stars produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher discovered in 1861 will peak before dawn Wednesday morning April 22.
Look East into the constellation of Lyra near Vega and you should be able to catch 10-20 meteors per hour on average with rare surges of up to 100 but the waning gibbous moon washes much of it out https://www.timeanddate.com/astrono my/meteor-shower/lyrids.html.
Public Events for the next month:
Monthly Open House at Calgary’s Rothney Observatory near P rid dis Astrophysics on the Cutting Edge for 2020.
University of Calgary students will speak on the latest Astrophysical discoveries are presented in a ‘What is New and Compelling’ presentation. Astronomers break down the meaning and significance of current research that is making the news. In the sky – The roar in the southern sky is the mighty Leo the Lion showing off its alpha star Regulus.
A shy waning moon will set creating dark conditions that will allow for great observing. You will have the opportunity to look through the telescopes, indoor presentation and astronomers will be on hand to answer questions on April 18 20:00 to 23:00.
The entrance fee $30 per car. further information, contact Jennifer Howse at jhowse@phas.ucalgary.ca, (403) 9312366. Their website https://www.ucalgary.ca/rao/ updated regularly.
Happy Spring and Warmer Days!
Neel Roberts is a member of the Calgary chapter of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC)the nation’s leading astronomy club founded in 1849 with over 5,000 members and 29 centers across Canada. Neel welcomes your questions and comments at (403)560-6574, Neel_Roberts@ptccanada.com. The members meet once a month on weekends at Calgary’s Rothney Observatory near Priddis and you can check out times at https://www.ucalgary.ca/rao/calendar. Like them at Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/groups/272037680 377/, Twitter https://twitter.com/ Calgary RASC & YouTube https:// www.youtube. com/user/ RASCCalgary.