Yesterday, Jan. 30, 2018, the moon was as close to the earth as it would get until next month, on Feb. 27, 2018. Because it is about 26,000 miles closer to the earth on these days, the moon looks a bit bigger to us. The time when the moon is closest to the earth is called perigee.
This super moon we had yesterday, also happened to pass behind the shadow of the earth. Basically, the moon was hiding from the sun behind the earth. When it was eclipsed by the earth, the moon was only visible as a dark shadow. As it disappeared and when it appeared again, we could see slivers of the edge of the moon.
The slight reddish tinge of the moon was made by the scattering of light by tiny particles in the earth’s atmosphere, so they also called this special super moon a blood moon. As if that weren’t enough, when this lunar eclipse happened, it was also the second time we had a full moon in one month (the moon was full on January 1 and again on January 31), making it a blue moon. So this moon event has more titles than a royal muckety-muck. It was a “super blue blood moon.”
I took this picture this morning about 5:45. No tripod, as I hadn’t planned ahead to take the photo. Maybe next time … but I understand it will be a very long time before all these events coincide again. Not sure where I’ll be in 2037.
WOW, Great picture. I saw a blood moon in 2015 while at Niagra Falls, but the weather here in Lacey, WA did not cooperate this time. I love all the scientific explanations Anneli.
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Thanks, Juanita. I thought of you when I took this picture and wondered if you might be out there taking a picture of the moon too. Shame about the weather getting in the way. I know you take great photos.
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That comment was from me. Juanita
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Good for you, getting up that early. I was still sound asleep at that time. It seemed to be worth the hour less sleep, so I guess I’ll wait until 2037. Be sure to remind me.
Great shot.
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If I’m around, I will certainly remind you, Gladys. I was up because Emma always has to go out early and I was kind of clock watching all night, at intervals, because I didn’t want to miss the eclipse. I took the dogs out a bit earlier and watched this beautiful phenomenon in the sky.
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Great picture.
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I’m surprised it turned out well enough to recognize what it is.
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Nature – still the best art gallery 🙂
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It sure is, Hans.
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Got to see it disappear, but it set here before it came back. That would probably have been very scary in ancient times. Your photo is great!
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I wondered if we would still be able to see it because I had noticed (from having the dogs out early) that the moon was setting sometime in the early morning. I guess you’re that much farther east that you missed part of it. At least you saw some of the event.
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Interesting post and great shot!
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Thanks, Belinda. I’m not good at night shots, but this one is tolerable. Thank you.
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Great photograph, Anneli! I saw the moon while driving into work at 5:30 this morning, it was pretty amazing.
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Oh no! I’m sorry you had to be going to work at 5:30, but isn’t it nice how this eclipse brightened up your day.
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I missed it. Rats! There are just trees everywhere here, and by the time I remembered it was too late to get out of bed and go out in the car. Thanks for the wonderful photo. I’ll enjoy it vicariously here. 🙂
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I guess there’s one good thing about having to go out early with the dogs.
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There are silver linings everywhere, aren’t there?
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That’s true, and it made it less of a chore to drag myself out of bed at that hour to go stand outside in the cold. It was quite a thrill to see, actually. Kind of a Zen feeling.
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Hi there…loved this post. I have done a painting here (Merida) called ‘Blood Moon Jazz’…it is a whimsical piece with four women paying musical instruments on the sand in front of a huge blood moon. These four women are really my granddaughters as I imagine them to be in 10 years..:o). xoxooxxo
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What a great idea!! I bet it’s beautiful.
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i didnt get to see the moon this morning, too much cloud cover. Great shot though
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Thank you. That’s too bad about the cloud cover. I’m amazed that we got to see it for the same reason.
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Fabulous photo!
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Thanks, Carol. I wasn’t going to even try, but the Captain reminded me I had not much to lose by trying so I was lucky.
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Nice shot. We saw it here too and a good friend took lovely shots of it.
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That’s great. It really was something to see.
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An amazing photo. I so wish I could photograph the moon. Boo.
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Is that what they call shoot the moon?
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I don’t think so hahahaha.
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😉
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Fantastic photo of this super blue blood moon!
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It turned out not too bad. I was surprised. But it was fantastic to see it. I remember thinking, some men walked on that once upon a time.
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I had to resort to watchin YouTube videos. We were supposed to have fabulous viewing – except for the clouds 😦
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That’s such a shame, Raili. I know that lots of times there are “events” like this here, and they are hidden because of weather. I thought in Australia it was sunny all the time.
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No, not ALL the time! It just co-incided with a cold and cloud covered sky. Just got little glimpses through the clouds – not worth staying up for.
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Nice. How great that you had a clear sky to catch the rare event. It was cloudy here.
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Even having a clear day here was a rare event in itself. Too bad you had cloud but as Pat said in her comment (she lives in your area too), she only caught the last part of it before it set, and most likely the clouds would have been moving in then too.
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I’d been up all through the early morning to see the moon! The next evening the moon was super bright and clear. I had thought I had left the porch light on and it was the moon! Super cool. Your shot is amazing! Thanks for sharing. Here’s to next time! 🙂
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Thanks for your comment. I did the same thing, awake every half hour or so to look at the clock, not wanting to miss it. It was pretty special. Glad you saw it.
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Congratulationes Anneli, greate picture of this event. Our moon was hidden all the time.
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Thanks, Bente. I was lucky.
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Great remembrance of this rare event, it is good to see it from your side of the universe
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