National Space Day

Rare super blood moon today

For the first time in decades, sky gazers are in for the double spectacle Monday of a swollen "super moon" bathed in the blood-red light of a total eclipse.A rare astronomical phenomenon on Sunday night will produce a moon that will appear slightly bigger than usual and have a reddish hue, an event known as a super blood moon. 

On the night of 27 September, the sky will see some of the most stunning views in living memory

A Super moon is a full Moon or a new Moon at its closest point to Earth; also called perigee. A Super moon looks around 12 to 14% bigger .

MOON-Y FACTS 

Why does it happen? 
As the earth casts its shadows and the sun's light hits all around its limb, the atmosphere glows red. This red glow illuminates the surface of the moon. According to NASA, "the exact color depends on what's floating around in earth's atmosphere" 

Why is this one so special? 

For the first ever time in the 30 years, people in most of the part of the globe will witness the super moon in combination with a total lunar eclipse. The next one happens in 2033. Also, this total lunar eclipse is the fourth and final eclipse in a series of four called the lunar tetras. 

Where will it be visible? 
The lunar eclipse will last an hour and 12 minutes and will be visible in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and parts of West Asia and the eastern Pacific. The earth's shadow will begin to dim the supermoon, beginning at 8.11 pm EDT (5.41 am IST on Sept 28) .