Top 3 Things You Need to Know About the Super Blue Blood Moon

Script written by Savannah Sher/h4>

Top 3 Things You Need to Know About the Super Blue Blood Moon

There’s more to this celestial event than its epic name. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 3 Things You Need to Know About the Super Blue Blood Moon.

For this list, we’re looking the essential facts about this rare occurrence. The only one in recent history occurred on January 31st, 2018, but we’re talking about the phenomenon in general.

#3: It Isn’t Super, Blue or Bloody

To understand this rare lunar event, let’s break down what its name means. A Super Moon occurs when the moon is very close to the Earth, which can be impressive but isn’t all that super – it happens all the time. A Blue Moon, interestingly, has nothing to do with the color: the term refers to the times when there’s a second full moon in one calendar month. And a Blood Moon? That’s a type of lunar eclipse when Earth is between the sun and the moon, causing the moon to take on a red or orange color. Put them all together and you get the Super Blue Blood Moon, the last of which was seen in 1866!

#2: Scientists Can Learn from this Kind of Lunar Event

Considering this is the first Super Blue Blood Moon in over 150 years, the scientific community is excited about the research potential. For example, they can use thermal cameras to see what happens to the surface of the moon when it cools down very fast. However, there’s an even more exciting prospect: the Super Blue Blood Moon mimics the effects of an “exoplanet” passing across the face of its parent star, which allows scientists to examine spectra, or measurements of light examined by wavelength. That way, they can examine the characteristics of distant planets, and discover if they have what it takes to sustain extraterrestrial life. Cool, huh?

#1: These Rare Moons Bring Out the Crazies (But Not the Way You Think)

We don’t mean people barking at the moon; we’re talking about the conspiracy theorists that come out of the woodwork whenever a rare lunar event like this occurs. People from many different backgrounds have attempted to ascribe greater meaning to these types of celestial events. For example, Christian ministers John Hagee and Mark Blitz promoted the idea that the Blood Moon was part of some apocalyptic Bible prophecy that signaled the second coming of Jesus and the end of the world. Others posit that a Super Blue Blood Moon would set off simultaneous volcanic eruptions across the planet, burning Earth beyond recognition. For most of us, however, it’s just an opportunity to stare at the sky in awe.