Posted on 01/20/2019 6:25:36 PM PST by Redcitizen
Grab your winter coat, some hot cocoa and your kid's telescope on Sunday and head outside because the next super blood wolf moon won’t be showing its face for another 18 years.
While the celestial phenomenon sounds like something you’d read in a teenage werewolf novel, its actual meaning is derived from multiple sources.
The term "super" refers to the placement of the moon. This month, the moon will be at its closest point to Earth’s orbit, making it appear larger than normal.
The term "wolf" derives from the Native American nickname for January's full moon and the wolves who "howled in hunger outside the villages," according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
The term "blood" comes from the way the sun’s light bends and refracts off the Earth's atmosphere and onto the moon’s surface, making it appear red or copper at times. This phenomenon, called "Rayleigh scattering," is also what causes the beautiful colors of our sunrises and sunsets as well as what makes our sky look blue. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California notes, however, that clouds, dust, ash and organic matter in Earth’s atmosphere may change the expected color of a super wolf blood moon.
"We’re not sure what color it will turn. It really depends on the earth’s atmosphere, whether we’ve had storms, volcanic eruptions, all sorts of things," explained Dr. David Reitzel, an astronomer and lecturer at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
The eclipse hasn't started yet.
The first time I saw one I thought it looked like some alien planet, just sitting in the sky like it was glowing with a dim red light. It never looked the same since then....
Aha! I see it. The bottom edge has begun to darken.
Too cloudy in E. TN.
Eclipse starts in 1 minute.
I live in north central Florida and I just got back in from outside looking. Moon is clear as day. Not red yet. 10:30 PM EST.
If you have some steaks, that will do it. No need to cook. And tell then its a bring your own booze type party.
It’s 3 below zero...I’ll watch it on the interwebs
What time does it start on the west coast?
I wish. It’s -15 here tonight so northern Michiganders are staying in.
Yep. Bottom of the moon is starting to darken. Looks like it will take an hour. Full eclipse at 12:12 AM Eastern time (earthsky.org).
Shockingly, it’s visible here.
We have only very light high cloud cover. It’s enough to make a beautiful night sky and clear enough to see the moon with no problem.
I live in north central Florida and I just got back in from outside looking. Moon is clear as day. Not red yet. 10:30 PM EST.
************
Full eclipse at 11:43 PM for an hour. At least we have clear weather for the viewing.
Got some berry gummies werewolf antidote on hand...
https://biohacku.com/blog/berry-gummies-werewolf-antidote
Umbral phase just getting started at 7:33pm west coast time. Total phase starts at 8:41 ends at 9:43 (the period where reddish color most noticeable). Mid-totality at 9:12pm your time.
I have a very clear view, right now. Whooo-hooo! (Denver area, Colorado)
I get the feeling I wasn’t invited ... unless I want to be the steaks.
What’s really chafing my butt though are all the snotty comments
about my hair and the way I dress. :(
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.