A Solar Eclipse will haunt the skies later this month, as the Moon is bathed in a foreboding red light. The event has sparked fear in a lot of people, some of whom have forecast the incoming end of days. For astronomers, the event is more fascinating than scary, and is known as the Super Blood Wolf Moon. A very particular set of physical interactions are what will give the Moon its rusty colour, but the name comes from elsewhere.
The name for this latest eclipse is so unusual as it has roots in Native American culture, with specific circumstances.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, Native Americans named this particular Blood Moon the ‘wolf’ Moon as it elicited particular behaviours from the predators.
The native population observed wolves more often howled in hunger outside of villages when the Blood Moon descended, and named it after this.
This would have been particularly significant long ago, as many ancient cultures used the Moon to navigate the days instead of the Sun, meaning they gave several different names to different Moons.
When is the Super Blood Wolf Moon?
Stargazers will be treated to the rare astronomical event at the end of the month, from January 20 to January 21.
The best glimpses of the Moon will be visible from January 21 at 5.15am, so anyone keen will need to stay up very late.
However, those who do get to see the event will bear witness to a rare event, as the Moon will also be ‘super’.
A super Moon takes place when the Moon is at the closest point in its elliptical orbit around the Earth.
The event – also known as perigee – means the Moon appears much bigger than normal.
To be exact, the Moon will are up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter in the sky.
However if you do happen to miss the opportunity, there will be three others this year to look at on February 19 and March 21.
How does the Moon become a blood Moon?
A Blood Moon is the direct result of a Lunar Eclipse, when the Earth stands between the Moon and the Sun.
Often times, when the Earth is in this place, the light is blocked and the Moon can disappear entirely.
However during a Blood Moon eclipse, the light is simply filtered via the Earth’s atmosphere.
Space.com writes: “Some of the sunlight going through Earth’s atmosphere is bent around the edge of our planet and falls onto the moon’s surface.
“Earth’s air also scatters more shorter-wavelength light (in colours such as green or blue).
“What’s left is the longer-wavelength, redder end of the spectrum.”