▲ "Super Blue Blood Moon" debuted on the 31st
Do you still remember the impressive " Super Moon " on New Year's Day this year? Wednesday (31st) will usher in the rare "Super Blue Blood Moon". From 7:48 to 11:12 pm on that day, the blue moon , blood moon and super moon will appear at the same time, performing a rare event in 152 years. astronomical wonders.
"Super blue blood moon", also known as "Super Moon Trilogy", is a rare astronomical spectacle, consisting of super moon, blue moon and total lunar eclipse (blood moon) composed together. January 31st is also the first time in 152 years that the Blue Moon and the Blood Moon will meet. The last time this happened was in 1866.
The moon orbits the earth in an elliptical orbit. When the full moon is closer to the earth, the larger the full moon can be seen, so it is called a "super moon". This year's New Year's Day super moon looks 8% larger and 16% brighter than the average full moon, which is very special.
The so-called "Blue Moon" refers to the second full moon in a month. It is not a true blue moon. In the proverb, "Once in a Blue Moon" means a once-in-a-lifetime event. January 31 this year happens to be the second full moon in January.
The last "blood moon" refers to a total lunar eclipse. Since the atmosphere on the earth's surface scatters sunlight, only red light is refracted to the moon's surface. It is similar to watching the sunset at dusk. The "blue moon" seen at this time is It turns red and is also called a "red moon" or "blood moon".
▲A blood moon usually occurs during a total lunar eclipse.
According to "CNN", the "Super Blue Blood Moon" occurring on the 31st will span from the northwest United States to western Asia. The best viewing spots are Central Asia, East Asia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia. , the Eastern United States and Europe can only see the March partial eclipse . NASA revealed that the next blue moon and blood moon gathering will not happen until at least 2028.
Taiwan part, Nanying Planetarium suggested that the process of the total lunar eclipse entering the earth's umbral shadow occurred in the first half of the night, lasting from 19:48 to 23:12 Taiwan time, and the whole process was nearly 3.5 hours. To watch the total lunar eclipse, you only need The entire change can be seen with the naked eye.
Taipei Planetarium stated on the 19th that the moon will rise at 5:24 in the evening on the 31st, begin penumbral eclipse at 6:50, begin waning at 7:48 , eclipse at 8:51, and 9:30 The eclipse is very , the light will be generated at 10:8, and it will be full at 11:12. The penumbral eclipse will end at 0:10 a.m. on February 1. Astronomy fans may wish to prepare their telescopes, choose an open space, and quietly enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime astronomical wonder.
▲"Super Blue Blood Moon" observation time.
In ancient times, the phenomenon of lunar eclipse was explained by the Tengu eclipse. When a lunar eclipse came, it brought panic to the ancients. However, with the development of human beings, modern people regard the formation of lunar eclipses as scenery. Below, we will reveal to you how lunar eclipses are formed.
How is a lunar eclipse formed?
A lunar eclipse is a phenomenon in nature. When the sun, the earth, and the moon are exactly or almost in the same straight line (the earth is between the sun and the moon), the light from the sun to the moon is It will be partially or completely obscured by the Earth, causing a lunar eclipse.
Lunar eclipses can be divided into three types: partial lunar eclipse, total lunar eclipse and penumbral lunar eclipse . According to observation data, the percentages of penumbral lunar eclipses, partial lunar eclipses, and total lunar eclipses in each century are approximately 36.60%, 34.46%, and 28.94%.
For the earth, the directions of the sun and the moon are 180° different, so the lunar eclipse must occur in "Wang" (that is, around the 15th day of the lunar calendar).
It should be noted that since the orbits of the sun and the moon in the sky (called the ecliptic and the ecliptic respectively) are not on the same plane, but at an intersection angle of about 5°, only the sun and the moon are located on the ecliptic and the ecliptic respectively. Only when the two intersection points have a chance to form a straight line, a lunar eclipse will occur.
Schematic diagram of lunar eclipse formation
From the above diagram of lunar eclipse formation, we can see the penumbra and umbra. These two shadow areas determine the degree of the lunar eclipse. The Earth casts a shadow in the direction away from the Sun, called the Earth's shadow. The earth's shadow is divided into two parts: the umbra and the penumbra.The umbra is the area that is not exposed to direct sunlight, while the penumbra is only partially exposed to direct sunlight. As the moon orbits the Earth, it sometimes enters the Earth's shadow, causing a lunar eclipse.
When the entire moon enters the umbra, a total lunar eclipse will occur; but if only part of the moon enters the umbra, only a partial lunar eclipse will occur. Total lunar eclipses and partial lunar eclipses are both umbral lunar eclipses.
What we are most concerned about is the total lunar eclipse. The following is a schematic diagram of the formation of a total lunar eclipse, which allows you to understand the formation process of a total lunar eclipse more clearly:
The formation process of a total lunar eclipse
The process of a total lunar eclipse is divided into initial waning, eclipse, and eclipse. There are five stages: food, light, and fullness.
Initial waning: The moon has just touched the earth's umbral shadow, marking the beginning of the lunar eclipse.
Eclipse: The western edge of the moon is inscribed with the western edge of the earth's umbra, and the moon just completely enters the earth's umbra.
Eclipse: The center of the Moon is closest to the center of the Earth's umbral shadow.
Light generation: The eastern edge of the moon is inscribed with the eastern edge of the earth's umbra, and the total eclipse phase ends.
Compound circle: The western edge of the moon is tangent to the eastern edge of the earth's umbra, and the entire lunar eclipse ends at this time.
Total lunar eclipse will appear in Tianyu
According to astronomy experts, the spectacle of total lunar eclipse will be shocking on January 31, 2018. As long as the weather is clear, most areas in our country can enjoy the wonderful scene of a "red moon" hanging high in the night sky.
This total lunar eclipse is divided into five stages: initial waning at 19:48 (the moon just touches the earth's umbral shadow); eclipse at 20:51 (the moon happens to completely enter the earth's umbra); eclipse at 21:30 (the center of the moon closest to the center of the earth's shadow); 22:08 luminescence (the moment the moon emerges from the earth's umbra); 23:11 full circle (the moon completely separates from the earth's umbra).
Among them, the 1 hour and 16 minutes from the moment of eating to the moment of light generation is the most exciting part. At this time, when viewed from the earth, the moon does not disappear from the sky, but appears bronze and is still round, which is unique. The scenery is also the famous "red moon" period.
The entire lunar eclipse lasts for 3 hours and 24 minutes (from initial loss to full circle).
