Rare ‘Super Blood Blue Moon’ to be visible on January 31

Skywatchers and observers all over the world will have the thrill of their lifetime on Wednesday January 31, when the moon while passing through the earth will record the closest distance and appear as 'Blue moon.'

Skywatchers in California, western Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, Australia and eastern Asia should be able to see the entire eclipse, provided the westher remains favourable. 

The entire celestial event will be webcast live by international space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space  Administration (NASA) starting at 5:30 a.m. EST (1030 GMT).

(Video courtesy: Wood TV)

This cosmic event has not been witnessed in the last 36 years. Space observers all around the world are highly enthusiastic since three lunar events will take place simultaneously which are, an extra big super moon, a blue moon and a total lunar eclipse. 

“It’s an astronomical trifecta,” said Kelly Beatty, a senior editor at Sky and Telescope magazine.

Normally, a blue moon happens in every two years and eight months and this one is third in a series of super moons which happen when the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit.

The point, called the perigee, makes the moon appear 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter. “That red light you see is sunlight that has skimmed and bent through Earth’s atmosphere and continued on through space to the moon,” said Alan MacRobert of Sky and Telescope magazine. “In other words, it’s from all the sunrises and sunsets that ring the world at the moment.”