A blood moon happens when the earth's moon goes through a total lunar eclipse. It is called the blood moon due to its beautiful shade. When this happens, the moon appears red or reddish brown and thus the name - blood moon. The moon's red glow has also earned its name "red moon".
No blood moon in 2023 (or 2024)
The next Blood Moon will only happen in 2025, on March 14. Another one will take place in 2025, on September 07, but it won't be visible in the Americas.
In 2026 there will be one more, on March 03. Then the following one will be on New Year's Eve (December 31st) 2028. That will sure be a memorable one.
Blood Moons explained
The moon does not have its own source of light. It shines brighter due to the sun's reflection on it. However, during a total lunar eclipse, the moon is hidden from the sun, and the only light that it reflects upon is those coming from the earth's edges.
The air molecules in the atmosphere of the Earth dissipate the blue light. Another way to put is that the light waves are stretched out, and look red because of it. The leftover light molecules reflect onto the surface of the moon, giving it a red glow and that's why it appears red or reddish during a lunar eclipse.
The Moon can sometimes appear even more reddish if there is a higher concentration of haze, dust, or smoke in the sky.
Although there are no astronomical significances of the blood moon, the shade of the moon as perceived by humans will always depend on factors like:
- level of pollution at a given location,
- cloud coverage,
- debris.
Interesting Facts About Blood Moons
- Although a total lunar eclipse occurs twice or thrice a year, seeing a blood moon is rare as it depends upon various geographical conditions as mentioned above, and also the location.
- The blood moon that happened on May 16, 2022, was also known as the "supermoon", with the longest prime-time totality and half the global population was able to see it.
- 2022 had the most unusual pair of lunar eclipses in 430 years.
- Studies show that the total lunar eclipse of June 26, 2029, will only just be able to cross the duration of this year's eclipses with a totality of 102 minutes.
The Spiritual Significances Of Blood Moon
According to Mesopotamians and Incas, the blood moon symbolizes the death and the downfall of the king. However, a few Native American tribes think that a moon turns red when it is deprived of love and care. Therefore, a blood moon meant that the moon needs affection.
Some cultures believe that when the blood moon takes place, it means that it's time to explore your dark side and dive deeper into the hidden emotions hidden in our subconscious mind like rage, and grief. A blood moon symbolizes it is time to let go and heal.
The Bible also has some interesting verses about the blood moon, where prophets predicted the moon "turning to blood":
Joel 2:31- The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
Matthew 24:29- Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heaven will be shaken.
Joel 3:15- The sun and the moon are darkened and the stars withdraw their shining.
We had "Twin Blood Moons" in 2022
In 2022 people witnessed two blood moons. One on May 16 and one on November 08. The 2022 total lunar eclipses are known as twin eclipses, as they are the most balanced pair of eclipses that happened in four centuries.
