Mark your calendars, because the first total eclipse of a blue moon in about 150 years will be happening on Jan 31. That means the last time a rare phenomenon like this occurred, none of us were alive.
It’s basically the combination of three separate celestial events occurring at the same time — a supermoon, a blue moon, and a total lunar eclipse, and it’s being hailed as a super blue blood moon eclipse. Which sounds more like something out of World of Warcraft than a real astronomical phenomenon.
A blue moon takes place approximately every two to three years on average, and it’s the second full moon within a month. As for the full lunar eclipse, that only happens when the moon enters the umbra, the darkest part of Earth’s shadow; while the supermoon is a full moon or new moon that coincides with the point in the moon’s orbit closest to Earth.
Science Centre Singapore’s (SCS) Science Educator Mok Li Hui told Yahoo News Singapore that the phenomenon on Jan 31 “can be viewed anywhere in Singapore, where there are no tall trees or buildings blocking your view, as long as you face the eastern sky”.
But it’s advisable to watch the eclipse with binoculars or a telescope, she added.
The SCS said that the astrological event in Singapore will commence at 7:48pm and end at 11:11pm. The total eclipse will start at 8:51pm and end at 10:08pm, while the partial eclipse will end at 11:11pm.
Expect the moon to turn a coppery shade of red during the full eclipse.
As for 2018’s next total lunar eclipse, it will be a micro-moon on Jul 28 — the phenomenon happens when a full moon or new moon coincides with the point in the moon’s orbit farthest away from Earth.
The lunar event will be seen in all our fellow Coconuts cities, including Hong Kong, Jakarta, Bali, and Manila.
