A celestial worm will turn a bloody red tomorrow.
Well, sort of. Earth’s shadow will partially cover this month’s full moon, with it being a total lunar eclipse in some parts of the world.
This will be the last time people will be able to see this cosmic phenomenon for nearly three years.
And the full moon that will get this honour is called the Worm Moon.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is a blood moon?
Lunar eclipses are caused by an alignment of the sun, Earth and moon, with them all running laps around one another.
Occasionally, the moon will duck behind the Earth, with our planet’s shadow spilling over the moon, blocking some of its gleaming surface.
There are three main types. A penumbral eclipse is when the moon passes the outer part of the shadow, called the penumbra.
A total lunar eclipse, meanwhile, sees the moon be swallowed up entirely by the Earth’s inner shadow, the umbra.
When this happens, sunlight spills over the edges of the Earth
Mat Irvine, the vice-chair of the Astronomical Society of Haringey, said the blood moon isn’t a sign of the apocalypse or a vampire attack.
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‘The moon passes into the Earth’s shadow, on the opposite side to the sun, and can do one of several things,’ he explains to Metro.
‘It can in effect “disappear”, or it can go that “blood-red” colour, or just a pale red or pink – it all depends on the atmospheric conditions at the time.’
By this, Irvine is referring to clouds, dust storms and other particles in the air that can filter the blue light, leaving rusty red wavelengths.
A partial eclipse, meanwhile, is between a penumbral and a total lunar eclipse.
What is a Worm Moon?
A full moon happens once a month and all 12 have a name.
For centuries, people used the moon to track the flow of time, like when to harvest certain crops or when animals may be out and about.
The Worm Moon refers to when earthworms wriggle out of the soil in the early spring
Some indigenous North American tribes call it the Sugar Moon – when maple sap runs – or the Sore Eyes Moon because of the sun’s rays hitting the last of the snow, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Saying that, this year, May will have not one but two full moons – a blue moon, which happen once every two and a half years. Hence the phrase, ‘once in a blue moon’.
When is the full moon?
The third full moon of the year will shine tomorrow, appearing brightest at 11.38am UTC.
Eastern regions will see it close to sunrise, while the west will catch it in the pre-dawn sky.
The totality will last a little under an hour, according to Time and Date.
Crane your neck up high towards just below the Sickle star pattern in the constellation Leo to see our closest celestial neighbour.
People in North America, South America, East Asia and Australia will be treated to a full lunar eclipse.
Dr Edward Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Museums Greenwich in London, says the UK sadly won’t catch the full worm lunar show.
‘It’ll be over by the time the moon rises,’ he says.
‘However, you can see the moon, Jupiter will be nearby (and nice and bright), and over to the West as the sun sets, Saturn and Venus will be just above the horizon (Mercury too, but it is quite a challenge).’
How can I see it?
Rather easily – the lunar eclipse will be visible with the naked eye, no need for fancy equipment like binoculars or a telescope.
This is a far cry from a solar eclipse – when the moon glides in front of the sun – which you need special glasses to look at.
How much of the eclipse you will be able to see depends on where you are as the moon does a lap around us and its colour reddens.
If it’s cloudy, try in the morning before sunrise.
When is the next total lunar eclipse?
One happens every 18 months or so, with the next slated for New Year’s Eve 2028 – certainly one way to ring in the new year.
We won’t need to wait as long, however, for the next partial one.
‘You’ll be able to see the reddish light partial engulf the lunar surface while leaving a sliver of normal illumination throughout!’ adds Dr Bloomer.
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