We explain what the blood moon or red moon is, how often it occurs and the origin of its name. Also, why it is not dangerous to look at it.
What is a blood moon or red moon?
A type of lunar eclipse is popularly known as a red moon or blood moon, in which the Earth’s satellite does not darken completely, but rather takes on certain copper, red or brown tones. This phenomenon occurs when two different events coincide:
- When there is a total lunar eclipse, that is, when during a full moon period, the Earth stands between sunlight and the Earth’s satellite, immersing the latter in a cone of almost total shadow.
- When the Earth’s atmosphere contains high levels of pollution, cloudiness or other interferences, capable of absorbing certain wavelengths of sunlight and allowing only the lower spectrum of light to pass through, that is, red light.
When both situations coincide, we have a red moon or blood moon, that is, a lunar eclipse that instead of completely darkening the moon, dyes it a reddish hue that can be overwhelming. Otherwise, this phenomenon has no particular or special feature from an astronomical point of view, but it has been observed since ancient times and has commonly been associated with bad omens. You must read about Seasons of the Year once.
How often is there a blood moon or red moon?
Blood moons are not entirely predictable, since they depend on the date and location from which they can be seen. After all, they are just a lunar eclipse. Between two and five lunar eclipses occur each year, although total eclipses are the rarest of all.
Still, chances are that the next blood moons or red moon will occur on the following dates and locations:
- May 16, 2022, visible in North and South America, Europe, and Asia.
- November 8, 2022, visible in North and South America, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific.
- March 14, 2025, visible in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and the Pacific.
- September 7, 2025, visible in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
- March 3, 2026, visible in North and South America, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific.
- December 31, 2028, visible in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific.
- June 26, 2029, visible in North and South America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
- December 21, 2029, visible in North and South America, Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Pacific.
- April 25, 2032, visible in North America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific.
- October 18, 2032, visible in North and South America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific.
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Why is it called a “blood moon”?
There are many explanations and stories about why this type of moon is called a “blood moon or red moon”, all associated with tragic or bloody events. In ancient times, they were associated with fateful events that threatened the stability of the universe or the perpetuity of a monarch.
Some biblical versions associate it with the death of Saint John the Baptist, when the exotic Idumean princess Salome asked King Herod as a gift, after having performed a dance for him, for the head of the prophet John the Baptist on a silver platter.
The monarch, who had arrested the prophet to prevent him from turning the people against him (in some versions, because he did not approve of Herod’s marriage to his sister Herodias), kept his word and gave the dancer the severed head of the prophet, and that very night the Moon turned red, reflecting the holy blood shed. Maybe you should definitely read about Winter once.
What happens when there is a blood moon?
When there is a blood moon or red moon, you can see a reddish, brown or copper-coloured moon, because the light of the Sun, when it penetrates the Earth’s atmosphere, is scattered or distorted when it comes into contact with the particles suspended in it, such as ash, carbon dioxide, very dense clouds, among others.
This is because red and orange light has the longest wavelength and the slowest frequency, oscillating from 430 to 510 times per second. Otherwise, this moon is no different from any other moon in the lunar calendar.
Is it dangerous to look at a blood moon or red moon?
Not at all. Unlike solar eclipses, which can damage our retina if we look at them directly, lunar eclipses do not represent any danger, since the Moon does not have its own brightness. Its apparent brightness is due to the reflection of the light of the Sun.
