Was there a blood moon in 2014?

Remember Those “Blood Moons” of 2014? Here’s What All the Fuss Was About

Back in 2014, the night sky put on quite a show. We weren’t just talking about one lunar eclipse, oh no. We got two total lunar eclipses, and everyone was calling them “blood moons.” But here’s the thing: it wasn’t just a random double feature. These eclipses were part of something bigger, a lunar tetrad – basically, a four-eclipse series. So, what was the deal with these “blood moons,” and why were they so special? Let’s break it down.

First, lunar eclipses. What are they, really? Simple: it’s when Earth slides right between the Sun and the Moon, like a cosmic photobomb, and casts its shadow on the Moon. Now, when the Moon goes completely into the darkest part of Earth’s shadow – the umbra – that’s when you get a total lunar eclipse. Pretty cool, right?

But why “blood moon”? Good question! During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon doesn’t just vanish. Instead, it usually turns this awesome reddish or coppery color. Think of it like this: the Earth’s atmosphere is acting like a lens, bending sunlight around the edges and onto the Moon. Red light, with its longer wavelengths, gets bent the most, which is why the Moon glows red. It’s the same reason sunsets are red – Mother Nature’s way of putting on a show!

Okay, so 2014. We had two of these bad boys:

• April 15, 2014: This one was a real treat for folks in North and South America, and Australia. Parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe got a partial view, too. The total eclipse lasted for a solid 78 minutes. I remember trying to snap photos with my phone – didn’t quite do it justice, but hey, it was still amazing to see!
• October 8, 2014: This time, the Pacific Ocean and surrounding areas had the best seats in the house. If you were in northeast Asia, eastern Australia, or western North America, you were in luck. The total phase was a bit shorter, around 59 minutes. And get this: Uranus was hanging out super close to the Moon that night, just a degree away! Talk about a cosmic photo op!

Now, here’s where it gets even more interesting: these eclipses were part of a tetrad. A what-now? A tetrad is just a fancy name for four total lunar eclipses happening close together. The 2014-2015 tetrad included:

Lunar eclipses happen fairly often, about twice a year. But tetrads? Those are a bit rarer. In fact, there weren’t any tetrads at all between 1600 and 1900! So, yeah, 2014 was a pretty special year for skywatchers.

Now, you might have heard some folks talking about these eclipses and biblical prophecies. Some religious leaders made claims linking the tetrad to certain events. But honestly, the science community didn’t really buy into that. It’s always fun to see how different people interpret these things, though!

One last thing: remember that where you were on Earth determined how good your view was. Unlike solar eclipses, which are only visible from a small area, total lunar eclipses can be seen from anywhere on the nighttime side of the planet – as long as the weather cooperates, of course.

So, there you have it. The “blood moons” of 2014 were a real thing, a pair of total lunar eclipses that were part of a rarer lunar tetrad. They gave us some stunning sights and reminded us just how awesome and dynamic the universe can be. Did you get a chance to see them? I’d love to hear your stories!