News location:

Canberra Today 12°/15° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

A Blood Moon will appear early Saturday

Super Blue Blood Moon from January 31 this year. Photo by Lannon Harley, ANU.
AS the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, Australia will see a Blood Moon a part of a total lunar eclipse. 

ANU astronomer Dr Brad Tucker said people would see the Moon appear to darken and gradually turn red as it moves into Earth’s shadow in the early hours of Saturday, July 28. 

“The red colour comes from light that skims through the Earth’s atmosphere and goes off into space,” he said.

“You will see the sunrise and sunset of the Earth lighting up the surface of the Moon – over 350,000 km away.

“If you were on the Moon, you would see a total solar eclipse as the Earth would be blocking the Sun.”

Lunar eclipses always occur when it is a Full Moon.

“The Moon is not always in perfect alignment with the Sun and the Earth, so that is why we do not get a lunar eclipse every lunar cycle,” Dr Tucker said.

“You can enjoy lunar eclipses safely with your eyes, unlike a solar eclipse where eye protection must be worn.”

For people on Australia’s east coast, the lunar eclipse will begin at about 3.15am on Saturday, July 28.

“You’ll need to wait another two hours or so, from about 5.30am, before you can see a total eclipse when the Moon will start to turn red,” Dr Tucker said.

“People on the east coast will not see the Moon leave the shadow.”

Dr Tucker said people living further west should see nearly all of the lunar eclipse.

Who can be trusted?

In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.

If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.

Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.

Become a supporter

Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

Share this

Leave a Reply

Related Posts

Follow us on Instagram @canberracitynews