Total Lunar Eclipse: ‘Blood Moon’ Visible Worldwide
- September 2024 brought a rare celestial event: a total lunar eclipse coinciding with the approach of the autumnal equinox.
- A total lunar eclipse, often called a "blood moon" due to the reddish hue the Moon takes on during totality, was visible to many across the globe on...
- The Moon appeared a deep, dark red as the Earth passed directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface.
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September Equinox and lunar Eclipse: A Celestial Double Feature
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September 2024 brought a rare celestial event: a total lunar eclipse coinciding with the approach of the autumnal equinox. This article details the eclipse, the equinox, and their significance.
The September 2024 Total Lunar Eclipse
A total lunar eclipse, often called a “blood moon” due to the reddish hue the Moon takes on during totality, was visible to many across the globe on Sunday, September 1, 2024. This was the first total lunar eclipse visible as 2022 Space.com.
The Moon appeared a deep, dark red as the Earth passed directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. This phenomenon occurs because the Earth’s atmosphere filters out most of the Sun’s light, scattering blue light and allowing red light to reach the Moon NASA.
The eclipse was visible in western europe, Asia, and Australia. Specific timings varied by location, but the period of totality – when the Moon was fully within the Earth’s umbra - lasted for approximately 62 minutes EarthSky.
The September Equinox: Equal Day and Night
On September 22, 2024, day and night will be of approximately equal length for everyone on Earth. This event marks the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the vernal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere Time and Date.
The equinox occurs as the Earth’s axis is tilted at approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun. During the equinoxes, neither hemisphere is tilted towards or away from the Sun, resulting in roughly equal amounts of daylight and darkness.The word “equinox” comes from the Latin words *aequus* (equal) and *nox* (night).
After the September equinox, the Northern Hemisphere will experience shorter days and longer nights as it tilts away from the Sun, leading into winter. conversely, the Southern Hemisphere will experience longer days and shorter nights as it tilts towards the Sun, moving into spring.