What causes a Super Blue Blood Moon?

Okay, Let’s Talk Super Blue Blood Moons: Seriously Cool Sky Stuff

Ever heard of a Super Blue Blood Moon? Sounds like something straight out of a fantasy novel, right? Well, it’s real, and it’s one of the coolest things you can see in the night sky. Basically, it’s when three awesome lunar events team up for one incredible show: a supermoon, a blue moon, and a total lunar eclipse (which gives us that “blood moon” effect). Let’s break it down, because trust me, it’s worth understanding.

First up: the supermoon. Now, the Moon’s path around Earth isn’t a perfect circle; it’s more of an oval. Sometimes the Moon is closer to us (that’s perigee), and sometimes it’s farther away (that’s apogee). When a full moon happens to coincide with the Moon being near its closest point, BAM! Supermoon. It can look up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter. Honestly, the size difference isn’t huge, but you’ll definitely notice the extra brightness. It just feels…bigger, you know?

Then we have the blue moon. Forget what you think you know about a blue-colored moon. The name actually refers to the timing of the full moon. When we get two full moons in a single calendar month, the second one is dubbed a “blue moon.” Since a lunar cycle takes about 29.5 days, and most months are longer than that, we get a blue moon every two or three years. It’s like a bonus moon, totally unexpected. There is also another definition that is less commonly used, which defines a blue moon as the third full Moon in an astronomical season containing four full moons.

Now, I did say the moon doesn’t usually turn blue. But here’s a fun fact: it can! After the Krakatoa volcano erupted way back in 1883, the Moon actually appeared blue because of all the dust in the atmosphere. Pretty wild, huh?

Finally, let’s talk about the blood moon. This is where things get really dramatic. A blood moon happens during a total lunar eclipse. This is when Earth lines up just right between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the Moon. Now, the Moon doesn’t just disappear completely. Instead, it glows this eerie reddish or coppery color. Why? Because some sunlight still manages to sneak through Earth’s atmosphere and bend around onto the Moon’s surface. The atmosphere filters out most of the blue light, leaving the red light to give the moon that spooky glow. Think of it like a sunset, but on the Moon.

So, a Super Blue Blood Moon is when all this craziness happens at once. We’re talking a supermoon (big and bright), a blue moon (second full moon in a month), and a total lunar eclipse (reddish glow). It’s rare because it needs all those things to line up perfectly.

While astronomers don’t officially use the term “Super Blue Blood Moon,” it’s a catchy way to describe this triple threat of lunar phenomena. If you ever get a chance to see one, don’t miss it. It’s a night sky experience you won’t soon forget!