Eclipses have always fascinated human beings. One of my favorite mythological take on the eclipse is the Hindu god Rahu .He’s not the oldest eclipse deity, but his stories are wondrously gruesome. He was once a proud Asura, a demigod of immense power and hunger. Seeking immortality, Rahu drank the divine nectar known as Amrita. Before the drought could pass his throat, the all-powerful Vishnu decapitated him for his transgression.And hence the fallen god continually seeks his revenge on the two planetary deities who ratted him out to Big Vish: the sun and moon and these are known as solar and lunar eclipses. While myths are extremely interesting, lets understand science of eclipse, its impact on Human Health and more on the longest eclipse of 21st century that is happening this month.
This would be the second total lunar eclipse of 2018 which will be visible in large parts of Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. Its totality will last for 103 minutes, making it the longest eclipse of the 21st century.
Total lunar eclipses are also called Blood Moon because of the reddish-orange glow the Moon takes on during the eclipse.A total lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon and covers the Moon with its shadow. When this happens, the Moon turns red, earning the nickname of Blood Moon.
Total eclipses of the Moon happens on a Full Moon day when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned to form a line. The astronomical term for this type of alignment is syzygy, which comes from the Greek word for being paired together.
You must be wondering why we dont see a lunar eclipse every month,if a Full Moon is needed for a total lunar eclipse right?
The plane of the Moon’s orbital path around Earth is inclined at an angle of 5° to Earth’s orbital plane around the Sun, which known as the ecliptic. The meeting point of the two orbital planes are called lunar nodes. Hence, Lunar eclipse occurs when a Full Moon happens near a lunar node only.
On the day of the eclipse, the Full Moon is at its farthest from the Earth, so it looks a little smaller, making this a Blood Moon eclipse.
| Why Blood Moon?
The logic behind the lunar eclipse being called as a Blood moon is because, when the sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, it gets refracted towards the Earth’s surface, and the colors with shorter wavelength gets scattered and filtered out, while the colors with longer wavelengths passes through the atmosphere. This light is once again refracted towards the surface of the fully eclipsed Moon, thus illuminating it in a reddish-orange glow. Because of this, a total lunar eclipse is colloquially called a Blood Moon. |
Interestingly, a solar eclipse always occurs about two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse.
Usually, there are two eclipses in a row, but other times, there are three during the same eclipse season. 13th July is the solar eclipse day this season. Though it will not be visible in Bangalore but Southern part of Australia, Indian and Pacific ocean etc. This being the first Eclipse of the season, and upcoming eclipse on 11th Aug being the third.
Did you know in ancient times, the darkness which prevails for a short duration when the moon disappears was believed as a sign of rise of darkness and that evil would flourish and most of them seem to stem from the fact that the dark night and shadow on the Moon brings an ominous feeling.These beliefs have created superstitions around Lunar Eclipses, some of which are still observed today. Some of them are like:
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For Kritika happiness is chocolates, loads of Netflix, journal scribblings and of course music. A child at heart she is currently grappling with adulting. On any given day you'll find her on the lookout to learn new things and the perfect cup of coffee. Drop in a line at storyweavers@byjus.com if you liked her stories or have exciting ideas to share!
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Comments
Arvind
July 25, 2018
Can anyone explain the facts behind myths like *a pregnant woman should not go out or *eating during eclips is unhealthy?
pl throw some light on above based on scientific reasoning n degree of truth
Vibhav Srivastava
July 27, 2018
Thanks byjus for d valuable information
BABU RAJ KC
July 27, 2018
Thanks a lot.
DAYANANDAN
July 27, 2018
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Guruprasad
July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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Ganarev
July 27, 2018
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Pranav Sharma
July 27, 2018
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Ankit kumar
July 27, 2018
Thanks byjus.
Versha Rani
July 27, 2018
Interesting fact !!!!!!????
Thanks byjus!!! ???
Shailja
July 27, 2018
Thanks
Gayathri Nair
July 27, 2018
Very interesting!!I will write again after I make my 10 year old son read this.
Throw some more light on why people don’t eat during eclipse.
poonam
July 27, 2018
thanks byjus for this valuable info…
Sreesini
July 27, 2018
Wow? nice information . Thanks to byjus
Trupti
July 27, 2018
Thanks for sharing this information.
Shivangi
July 27, 2018
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Tanvi
July 27, 2018
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Sp Vivekha
July 27, 2018
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Nithin
July 27, 2018
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Sanjay
July 27, 2018
Refraction of light explained keenly
MOHAMMED FAIZAN
July 27, 2018
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Harsh Varlyani
July 27, 2018
Thanks Byju’s for telling this??
Hanitha
July 27, 2018
Thank you byjus
Sophia Wavhal
July 27, 2018
???
Jesvi Maria Biju
July 27, 2018
Thanking byju’s and a happy blood moon day to all members.
Be outside at 8:44????????????????????
PUNEETH hg
July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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Trupti
July 27, 2018
There are also some blind faiths related to eclipse.what is scientific reason behind it
Prasun Chakraborty
July 27, 2018
I love space and I am glad to see this lunar eclipse in this century
in my living days.Thank you Byjus for giving this very important
and useful message to us.
kareena Rawal
July 27, 2018
Thanks byjus
Anusha
July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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Kritika
July 27, 2018
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Gayatri
July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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MTH
July 27, 2018
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Andleeb
July 27, 2018
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Pranav
July 27, 2018
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Varun Karthik
July 27, 2018
Don’t you think there are scientific reasons behind the myths?
Shruti
July 27, 2018
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Kavitha
July 27, 2018
Thank you for information
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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Sarah jose
July 27, 2018
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Somnath
July 27, 2018
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Tejas
July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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FAREEZ raza
July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
I want more information on this
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July 27, 2018
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Dipti
July 27, 2018
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July 27, 2018
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Pranav
July 28, 2018
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July 28, 2018
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DRISHYA
July 28, 2018
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July 28, 2018
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July 28, 2018
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July 28, 2018
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July 28, 2018
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July 28, 2018
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Joyti
July 28, 2018
Can you please tell the science fact behind these myths and thanks for the information.
Slash. K. S
July 28, 2018
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July 28, 2018
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July 29, 2018
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July 29, 2018
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July 29, 2018
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July 29, 2018
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July 29, 2018
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July 29, 2018
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July 29, 2018
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July 29, 2018
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July 29, 2018
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July 30, 2018
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Disha?
July 30, 2018
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Nityam
July 30, 2018
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August 1, 2018
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August 3, 2018
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November 28, 2018
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January 27, 2020
I want to know about solar eclipse
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June 4, 2020
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June 6, 2020
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