Super blue blood moon expected in Australian skies

Australians are getting ready for a rare ‘super blue blood moon’ which hasn’t been seen in some parts of the world for more than 150 years.

A lunar eclipse, super moon and blue moon are all expected to occur on Wednesday night, with Australia one of the places lucky enough to get the best view of the stunning event.

Unfortunately for some keen stargazers clouds are expected for Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Darwin, meaning the spectacular sight not seen in Australia for more than three decades may be obscured.

 

A rare ‘super blue blood moon’ is set to appear in the skies over Australia

A lunar eclipse, super moon and blue moon are all expected to occur on Wednesday night

A lunar eclipse, super moon and blue moon are all expected to occur on Wednesday night

Brisbane, Hobart and Perth are set to enjoy clear skies for the super blue blood moon, Nine News reported.

The lunar eclipse is expected to begin at 10.48pm AEDT as a dark shadow on the moon.

Sydney Observatory’s Brenan Dew said the moon will ‘glow a red colour’ once it is fully immersed.

The red colour is shown by the light of the sun being cast onto the surface of the moon.

From the moon the Earth will appear as a black circle with a copper-coloured glowing ring around it.

The moon will be as close as it can be to Earth during Wednesday’s super blue blood moon.

The lunar eclipse is expected to begin at 10.48pm AEDT as a dark shadow on the moon

The lunar eclipse is expected to begin at 10.48pm AEDT as a dark shadow on the moon

The red colour is shown by the light of the sun being cast onto the surface of the moon

The red colour is shown by the light of the sun being cast onto the surface of the moon

It will be five per cent larger than usual.

‘The average person would not notice it, so it’s not going to be significantly larger,’ Mr Dew said.

‘A lunar eclipse can also be called a syzygy, so tonight would be a syzygy perigree.’

A blue moon happens when a full moon occurs twice in one calendar month.

The super blue blood moon will start at 10.48pm AEDT and run until 1.07am on Thursday morning, while in South Australia it will start and finish 30 minutes earlier.

In Queensland it starts at 9.48pm and finishes at 1.11am, while in the Northern Territory it will begin at 9.18pm.

In Western Australia, the eclipse begins at 7.48pm and finishes at 11.11pm. 

The super blue blood moon will start at 10.48pm AEDT and run until 1.07am on Thursday morning in Sydney

The super blue blood moon will start at 10.48pm AEDT and run until 1.07am on Thursday morning in Sydney

In Queensland it starts at 9.48pm and finishes at 1.11am (Brisbane pictured)

In Queensland it starts at 9.48pm and finishes at 1.11am (Brisbane pictured)

In Western Australia, the eclipse begins at 7.48pm and finishes at 11.11pm (Perth pictured)

In Western Australia, the eclipse begins at 7.48pm and finishes at 11.11pm (Perth pictured)

The moon will be as close as it can be to Earth during Wednesday's super blue blood moon

The moon will be as close as it can be to Earth during Wednesday’s super blue blood moon

Southern Cross University geographer Professor Bill Boyd said the super blue blood moon is an ‘extremely unusual occurance’.

‘It will be unlikely for all three celestial events to converge again until the next century. 

THE SPECTACULAR SUPER RED BLUE MOON

WHAT IS IT?

The lunar event is when a supermoon, a red moon and a blue moon happen at the same time.

A supermoon is when the moon is the closest it will ever be to earth.

A red moon is a lunar eclipse where the moon, sun and earth all align. 

A blue moon is used to describe a second full moon in a month. 

WHEN DOES IT HAPPEN?

Once every 150 years. 

WHERE CAN IT BE SEEN?

Australia, NSW north coast and Gold Coast – 10.48pm and ends at 2.11am 

Australia – anywhere with a clear view to the north  

New York – early in the morning

India – early in evening  

WHEN WILL IT TAKE PLACE?

January 31, 2018



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