Q.6. What is ‘Blood moon’? When does it happen?

A Blood Moon refers to the phenomenon that occurs during a total lunar eclipse, when the Moon takes on a reddish coloration. This happens when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, blocking direct sunlight from reaching the Moon’s surface. Instead, the light that does reach the Moon is refracted through the Earth’s atmosphere, which filters out most of the blue light and allows the red light to pass through, giving the Moon a reddish appearance.

Blood Moons happen only during a full moon when the orbital planes of the Earth and the Moon align in such a way that the Earth’s shadow can fall on the Moon. It’s a rare event and can be quite striking to observe.

The next Blood Moon will occur on March 13/14, 2025. These events are special opportunities for skywatchers and astronomers alike to witness and study the celestial dynamics of our Earth-Moon system.