The Super Blue Blood Moon Only Seen Once Every 150 Years May be Blocked by Thick Cloud Cover
- A rare 'super blue blood moon' is set to appear in the skies over Australia
- The rare event hasn't been seen down under for more than three decades
- Moon will be as close to Earth as it can be and will appear five per cent bigger
Daily Mail, 31 Jan 2018.
The lunar trifecta event of a lifetime many Australians have been eagerly anticipating may be left disappointed.
The rare super blue blood moon, which hasn't been seen in some parts of the world for 150 years, is when a lunar eclipse, super moon and blue moon all happen at the same time.
Keen star gazers have been holding out for the incredible spectacle which will take place Wednesday night, January 31.
A rare 'super blue blood moon' is set to appear in the skies over Australia on Wednesday night
Keen star gazers have been holding out for the incredible spectacle but clouds may block the view for people across Sydney (stock image)
A lunar eclipse, super moon and blue moon are all expected to occur at once in rare event
However, the thick cloud cover may affect viewing from some locations across the country.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jordan Notara told Daily Mail Australia if the current cloud conditions in Sydney don't change, it would make it difficult to see the moon.
'It doesn't look like it will be optimal viewing because of the cloud cover,' Mr Notara said.
'If you were trying to view anything at the moment you wouldn't see anything but the conditions now aren't reflective of what we'll see tonight.'
Mr Notara said it was possible the clouds could move, depending on where people are.
If cloud conditions remain the same, Cronulla and the southern coast of Sydney would have the 'less obstructive views'.
Southern Cross University geographer Professor Bill Boyd previously told Daily Mail Australia many of us are likely to not see a lunar trifecta in our lives again.
'It's truly spectacular and worth staying up for,' Mr Boyd said.
'If there's patchy clouds it may look more dramatic.'
While the spectacle is a global event, Australia is one of the places lucky enough to get the best view.
Brisbane, Hobart and Perth are set to enjoy clear skies for the super blue blood moon
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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.'
Quote:
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?
31 January 31, 2018
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