Blood Moon Centerpiece of Coming Lunar Eclipse

By Deb Belt & Wendy Mitchell:

The second of the year’s four total lunar eclipses – creating what is often called a “ blood moon” – will occur just before sunrise Wednesday, Oct. 8.

The eclipse is the Northern Hemisphere’s hunter’s moon – the name for the full moon after the harvest moon, says EarthSky.org, and the show is often phenomenal.

During the sky-watching buzz leading up to the total lunar eclipse in April 2014, the term lunar tetrad was coined to name the four eclipses in a row, the organization says. Each eclipse is separated from the other by six lunar months (six full moons).

When to Watch

According to NASA, early risers can catch the lunar eclipse as it begins around 3:25 a.m. in the East Bay; the maximum eclipse should take place at 4:24 a.m. on Oct. 8.

Why the Eerie Name?

According to EarthSky, a full moon almost always takes on a copper hue during a total lunar eclipse, caused by light dispersion from the Earth’s sunrises and sunsets.

“Thus the term blood moon can be and probably is applied to any and all total lunar eclipses,” EarthSky reports.

Do you plan to get up early to watch the eclipse? Tell us in the comment section below.

Did you get an amazing shot of the blood moon over your town? Share them with us by emailing them to renee.schiavone@patch.com.

Curious how our new commenting platform, Disqus, works? Learn more about it hereand start interacting with your neighbors on Patch.

(Image via Shutterstock)