TripZillaYet another social media sensation is coming our way. After 152 years, the blue supermoon total lunar eclipse is making a comeback on 31 Jan 2018 in Singapore and other parts of the world. Eclipse chasers and skywatchers, you are in luck.
Image credit: Singapore Science Centre Facebook
What is a blue supermoon total lunar eclipse?
This once-in-a-blue-moon astronomical phenomenon is a collision of multiple celestial events, namely a Blue Moon, a total lunar eclipse and a supermoon, all at once.
Simply put, a blue moon occurs around every 2.5 years, when two full moons occur in the same month. Whereas, a total lunar eclipse happens when the Earth passes between the sun and moon, blocking sunlight from reaching the moon. On the night of 31 Jan, both events are expected to occur at the same time and this phenomenon is hailed as a ‘supermoon’ occurrence when the full moon coincides with it being the closest to Earth.
Singapore can thus expect to see a brighter, larger and blood-red moon.
Where and when to catch the total lunar eclipse?
Singaporeans will be able to catch the blue supermoon total lunar eclipse on the evening of 31 Jan. Here is a brief timeline of what to expect on 31 Jan:
7.48pm to 11.11pm: Partial eclipse
8.51pm to 10.08pm: Full eclipse
You can go to any unobstructed field to catch this celestial spectacle and no special equipments are needed. But enthusiasts, if you would like to get a closer view of the moon, equip yourself with the essentials – a pair of binoculars or telescope.
If you would like to celebrate this special phenomenon with more like-minded enthusiasts, save the details below, because The Singapore Science Centre is holding a special viewing session complete with a live Digital Planetarium show! You can look forward to taking high resolution pictures of the shadow during the solstice and equinox to compare the shadow lengths.
Image credit: Singapore Science Centre
Date: 31 Jan 2018
Time: 7.30pm to 10.30pm
Venue: Science Centre Singapore
Admission fee: Free
So save the date, everyone! If you miss it, you might not live to catch the next occurrence of a blue supermoon total lunar eclipse!
