SUPER MOON –

All around the world, images of the blood-blue super-moon of January 31, 2018 have multiplied, each offering its version of this lunar eclipse so special.
The blood blue super moon offered an impressive show this Wednesday, January 31 from 10:51 GMT (11:51 Paris time). As it took place at the same time as a total lunar eclipse, it was adorned with an ash-red hue, a phenomenon known as the blood moon The spectacle of this cosmic trio was perfectly visible to the naked eye from North America and the Pacific Islands but not from Europe because it was no longer night on this side of the globe. When the super moon reached its perigee, ie when it reached its orbit closest to the Earth, it was 359,000 km. She appeared bigger (by 14% anyway) and much brighter (by 30%) than usual. Admire the photos of the super moon.

Super moon 2018

We can say that in 2018, weather phenomena are at the rendezvous. After the super-moon on December 3, 2017 and January 1, 2018, the January 31, 2018 super-moon was the last of the trilogy, approaching 359,000 km from the Earth. The last time the moon reached its maximum perigee was January 26, 1948, approaching 356,461 kilometers. The next low perigee will probably not take place until November 25, 2034. It’s been 150 years since the cosmic trio of blood moon, blue moon and total lunar eclipse had not occurred. If the lunar eclipse can occur several times a year, the conjunction of the two phenomena (super-moon and total eclipse) is rare and gives rise to what is called a moon of blood.

This super moon of Wednesday 31 January 2018 was not visible from Europe or from South America. Only the lucky ones, on the other side of the globe, were able to attend from India to the west of North America, through Asia, Australia and the islands. Pacific Ocean, such as French Polynesia and New Caledonia. On the island of Reunion, however, the lunar eclipse was only partial. The eastern United States and Canada were best positioned to observe the red hue of the eclipse, which occurred in the morning at 5:51 am EST

Blue Super Moon

Super blue moon If this super moon was announced as a blue super moon, it had nothing to do with its color. It is called this because it is the second full moon of a calendar month, indeed a first super moon appeared on January 1, 2018. A fact that occurs only every 19 years. The use of the term “blue” would result from a blunder in an article in the American amateur astronomy magazine Sky and Telescope in 1946.

The article in question was entitled “Once in a Blue Moon” and was written by the journalist James Hugh Pruett who misinterpreted the Maine Farmers’ Almanac of 1937. And so this confusing phrase went around the world in no time …! Every two to three years, the year includes 13 full moons instead of 12. The blue super moon is associated with the number 13. Beliefs of the Middle Ages associate these years to 13 full moons to natural disasters but gardeners rather evoke particularly rainy years not very favorable to harvests.

Super moon of blood If you were in metropolitan France, it was unfortunately not possible to observe this cosmic trio since it had occurred in the middle of the day at 11:51 Paris time. In the United States, while it was very early in the morning, NASA advised to go to a high place with a clear view to the west.

The sunlight tinted the moon with a red that sometimes seemed particularly bright. Centuries ago, the “moons of blood” were seen as the announcement of great catastrophes. Today, we know that this color is due to the projection of sunlight. During the lunar eclipse, it was possible to “see the reflections on the lunar surface of all the sunrises and sunsets on Earth”, a phenomenon that results from “a rare alignment of these three astronomical cycles”, had pointed out Professor Jason Aufdenberg of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida.

Time of the Super Moon The best time to observe the super moon on January 31, 2018 was from 10:51 GMT (11:51 Paris time and 5:51 EST for the eastern United States), but it was only visible from the countries where it was dark at the time of its passage behind the Earth. At that time, the Moon was close to the horizon which allowed to benefit, in addition, from the lunar illusion effect. Being close to the elements we see on the horizon (like mountains for example), the satellite of the Earth appeared even more impressive. As for the blue super moon of blood, el