Surely you have heard of the Blood Moon, but do you really know what this phenomenon consists of and the legend that hides behind it?
The phenomenon of the Blood Moon, also called the Red Moon due to the color it adopts, is currently quite well known, since scientific and technological advances have allowed experts to discover why the moon turns this color from time to time. . However, there are many rumors and legends that accompany the Blood Moon, an event that was once linked to mysterious and surprising legends.
If you are passionate about history and astronomy and want to discover the true meaning and legend of the Blood Moon, keep reading!
Blood moon: meaning
When we talk about the Blood Moon, we are referring to the astronomical phenomenon that causes the Moon to turn a coppery red color. However, it is important to keep in mind that it is a term linked to certain esoteric beliefs since scientifically this phenomenon is known as a total lunar eclipse.
The total lunar eclipse occurs when there is a practically perfect alignment between the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth, located in the middle of the two stars. When this happens, our planet casts a shadow on the Moon, thereby blocking direct sunlight. What causes the satellite (Moon) to turn coppery red is the scattering and refraction of the Sun’s light through the Earth’s atmosphere as the Moon passes through our planet’s shadow during the eclipse.
Next, you can see an image in which you will clearly see how the play of light and shadow between the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon works so that we can observe the popularly known Blood Moon.
Blood moon: legend and superstition
There are several legends linked to the Blood Moon, since it is an unusual phenomenon that, for many years, had no apparent explanation.
Many believers, for example, still claim today that the red Moon is a sign that the end of the world is near since there are several passages in the Bible that speak of the Blood Moon as a symbol of the end of days. of humanity. This belief gained some popularity in 2013 when a pastor named John Hagee wrote the book “Four Blood Moons”, in which he claimed that this phenomenon heralded the end of the modern era.
There is no doubt that astronomical phenomena have always fascinated people from different cultures; especially in ancient times when there was no scientific evidence that could rationally explain them. The Mayans, for example, believed that the red Moon symbolized a war between the gods, while the Aztecs thought that it was a battle between day and night, a fearsome event since they did not know if they would ever see the light again. of the sun.
Super blue blood moon
Although many believe that they are similar phenomena, it is important not to confuse the Blood Moon with the Super Blue Blood Moon. This last phenomenon can be observed when a total lunar eclipse, a blue moon, and a Supermoon occur at the same time:
- Blue Moon: when two full moons occur in the same month.
- Supermoon: It is known as a Supermoon when the moment of closest approach of the Moon to our planet coincides with the full moon. In this case, from Earth, we can see the Moon noticeably larger than usual.
The last Super Blue Blood Moon we were able to revel in occurred in 2018, more than 150 years after the last Super Blue Blood Moon. If you are passionate about astronomy, be patient, because it is estimated that it will take -at least- fifteen years to enjoy this magnificent spectacle again.
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