Super blue blood moon colours the skies

A rare triple celestial event sees a blood moon, when the moon glows red during a lunar eclipse, combine with a super moon, when it appears larger than normal, and a blue moon – the second full moon in a month

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE: Earth blocks sunlight usually reflected by moon, creating partial (penumbra) or total (umbra) shadow

Sun    Sunlight    Earth   Umbra  Penumbra   Moon

Moon orbit

BLOOD MOON: Some sunlight is refracted through Earth’s atmosphere, giving moon deep red glow

SUPER MOON: Full moon occurs soon after perigee – point in its orbit closest to Earth – resulting in moon appearing 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual

All times UTC
Partial eclipse ends   15:11     Penumbra 
Totality ends          14:07     Umbra 
Greatest eclipse       13:29
Totality  begins       12:51  
Partial eclipse begins 11:48
Moon’s path

Evening of Jan 31

Morning of Jan 31

No eclipse visible
Eclipse visible at moonrise
Full eclipse visible
Eclipse visible at moonset
No eclipse visible

Sources: NASA
© GRAPHIC NEWS