Why Do Supermoons & Blood Moons Look So Strange?

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Discover why supermoons look bigger and brighter and why blood moons glow red in this easy-to-understand, 5-minute science breakdown! We’ll explain the fascinating astronomy behind these stunning lunar events, from the moon’s orbit and its closeness to Earth to the way Earth’s atmosphere transforms its appearance during a total lunar eclipse. Perfect for space lovers, night sky watchers, or anyone who’s ever looked up in awe. Like and share to inspire curiosity about our universe!

Transcript

00:00Have you ever stopped to consider the secrets held by the celestial orb that graces our night sky?

00:05Did you know the moon is slowly, almost imperceptibly, drifting away from Earth?

00:10It's a subtle but constant change.

00:13We're talking about an inch and a half each year.

00:15That might not sound like much, but over millions of years, it adds up.

00:19It's our closest celestial neighbor, a constant companion in the vast expanse of space,

00:24always moving, always changing, and always captivating our imagination.

00:28And it does so in a predictable and beautiful pattern, a cosmic ballet if you will called the lunar cycle.

00:34The cycle begins, subtly and mysteriously, with the new moon, a phase where the moon is hidden in darkness,

00:41nestled between Earth and the sun, seemingly invisible to the naked eye.

00:46But gradually, ever so slowly, a sliver of light begins to appear.

00:50The waxing phase, a promise of the brilliance to come.

00:53This sliver grows, night after night, eventually culminating in a glorious full moon,

00:59a radiant spectacle when Earth finds itself positioned directly between the sun and our lunar companion.

01:05After the full moon's peak, the light begins to recede, shrinking in the waning phase,

01:09a gentle decline towards darkness once more.

01:12The light continues to diminish, eventually returning to the complete darkness of the new moon.

01:17This entire dance, this mesmerizing cycle, takes approximately 29.5 days to complete.

01:24That's roughly one month, a word that, interestingly enough, originates from the very word moon.

01:30Throughout history, our ancestors have relied on this lunar cycle to track the passage of time,

01:35using it as a natural calendar long before the invention of the modern systems we use today.

01:40And so, every night, as we gaze upwards, the moon's appearance undergoes a subtle transformation,

01:46a celestial clock ticking away the eons, marking the passage of time for billions upon billions of years.

01:54And sometimes, just sometimes, this predictable dance surprises us with truly special and awe-inspiring events,

02:01events like the breathtaking supermoon and the eerily beautiful blood moon.

02:05Have you ever looked up at the night sky and been mesmerized by an exceptionally large and radiant full moon?

02:12What's a supermoon?

02:13The moon's orbit around our planet isn't a perfect circle.

02:16Instead, it follows an oval or elliptical path.

02:19This means that throughout its monthly journey, the moon's distance from Earth varies.

02:24Sometimes, it's closer to Earth than at other times.

02:27When a full moon happens to coincide with the point in the moon's orbit,

02:30when it is closest to Earth, a point called perigee, we get a supermoon.

02:35It's a celestial event that makes the moon appear bigger and brighter in our sky.

02:39When a supermoon graces our skies, the moon looks up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual,

02:46casting a more intense glow across the landscape.

02:49It's important to remember that the moon isn't actually physically growing larger.

02:53It's simply closer to us in its orbit, creating the illusion of increased size,

02:57much like holding your fist near your face, makes it appear larger.

03:01The effect of a supermoon is often most dramatic when it's near the horizon.

03:05Particularly at moonrise, or during moonset, as it dips below the horizon.

03:10This is especially true with the moon illusion,

03:13a visual phenomenon that tricks our brains into perceiving the moon

03:16as even larger than it actually is when it's close to the horizon.

03:20Interestingly, the term supermoon itself wasn't coined by a scientist,

03:24but rather by an astrologer named Richard Knoll in 1979.

03:27In the scientific community, this event is more formally referred to as perigee-syzygy,

03:33a term that describes the alignment of the earth, moon, and sun when the moon is at its closest point to earth.

03:39On average, we can expect to witness about three or four supermoons each year,

03:44offering multiple opportunities to marvel at this spectacle.

03:47These captivating events serve as a gentle reminder that the orbits of celestial bodies aren't perfect circles,

03:54but rather slightly imperfect ellipses.

03:57And it's precisely these subtle imperfections that give rise to some of the most stunning and awe-inspiring sights in the night sky.

04:05So next time you have the chance to see a supermoon,

04:08take a moment to truly appreciate its brilliance and notice how it dramatically lights up the night.

04:13Observe the way it casts brighter and more defined shadows,

04:17painting the world in a silvery glow.

04:19It's the moon's way of putting on a spectacular show,

04:22reminding us of the beauty and wonder that exists beyond our world.

04:27Now let's talk about the blood moon, a total lunar eclipse.

04:31During a lunar eclipse, earth blocks sunlight from reaching the moon, casting a shadow.

04:36But instead of going dark, the moon turns red because earth's atmosphere bends sunlight,

04:41filtering out blue light and letting red pass through.

04:43The moon glows with the light of all the sunrises and sunsets happening on earth at that moment.

04:49The exact shade depends on how much dust or clouds are in our atmosphere.

04:54Total lunar eclipses are rare because the moon's orbit is tilted,

04:57so perfect alignment doesn't happen every month.

05:00Sometimes a supermoon and a blood moon happen together.

05:04A superblood moon, one of the rarest lunar sights.

05:08Supermoons and blood moons, two celestial events that capture our imaginations.

05:12Both are special occurrences in the night sky,

05:15but they're very different in their nature and appearance.

05:18A supermoon is all about size and brightness.

05:21It's a spectacle of lunar illumination.

05:24The moon looks huge, appearing larger and more radiant than usual.

05:27It lights up the night, casting brighter shadows and creating a magical ambiance.

05:32A blood moon, on the other hand, is about color and mystery,

05:35a dramatic transformation in the sky.

05:38The moon dims, losing its typical brilliance as it enters earth's shadow.

05:42And then it glows red, bathed in an eerie, captivating light.

05:46This happens as earth's shadow passes over it during a lunar eclipse, filtering the sunlight.

05:52Supermoons can cause slightly higher tides than normal, a subtle but noticeable effect.

05:57These are called perigean spring tides, a result of the moon's closer proximity.

06:02It's a gentle reminder of the moon's gravitational pull on our oceans, shaping our coastlines.

06:07Each blood moon looks different, showcasing a range of hues and intensities.

06:12Sometimes it appears as a bright orange, a warm and inviting glow.

06:16Other times, it transforms into a deep red, a more intense and dramatic shade.

06:22This variation depends on the conditions of earth's atmosphere at the time of the eclipse.

06:26Volcanic eruptions or dust particles suspended in the air can significantly darken a blood moon,

06:31muting its vibrant color.

06:34Watching a lunar eclipse and witnessing a blood moon is like seeing a reflection of our planet's air,

06:39a glimpse into its composition.

06:42Both events, supermoons and blood moons, connect us to the grand rhythms of space

06:46and highlight the fascinating science that underpins the beauty we observe.

06:51Whether it's the brilliance of light or the mystique of shadow,

06:54the moon always has a story to tell, a story written in the language of the cosmos.

06:59The best part? Anyone can watch these lunar events, no telescope needed.

07:04For a supermoon, find a clear view of the horizon at moonrise for the most dramatic effect.

07:09For a blood moon, give yourself time.

07:11The eclipse unfolds slowly and binoculars can enhance the view.

07:15Check calendars or space news for upcoming events.

07:18Grab a blanket and enjoy the show.

07:20Watching the sky connects us to the universe and fills us with wonder.

07:24Supermoons reveal the moon's cosmic dance.

07:26Blood moons show the magic of perfect alignment.

07:30Mark your calendar for the next lunar event.

07:32It's a free, spectacular show from nature.

07:35Happy moon watching!

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