A rare lunar event is set to place in Thiruvananthapuram on 31 January. The event will witness three phases of the moon – lunar eclipse, a supermoon, and a blue moon – after a gap of 150 years. The last time such a rare celestial event took place was on 31 March 1866.
The Priyadarshini Planetarium housed in the Kerala Science and Technology Museum is already gearing up for the event with awareness sessions and telescopes in place. According to a report published in The Times of India:
The total lunar eclipse would end at 7:37 pm and then it will be a partial lunar eclipse at 8:41 pm as the moon will emerge out of the darkness and will be visible.
The Supermoon on 31 January is likely to have an orange or red appearance in sync with the atmospheric conditions prevailing at that time when light is scattered on the moon. Because of its colour, it is also called Blood Moon.
NASA says that Supermoons appear 14% to 30% brighter than full moons. NASA said that the moon will have an “eerie, fainter-than-normal”, and since it is often cast in a reddish hue, totally eclipsed moons are also called ‘blood Moons’, according to a report published in The News Minute.
This calendar year will also witness a Blue Moon again on 31 March, which is the second full moon in a calendar month. It will next occur in 2020.
The Breakthrough Science Society (BSS) at Shiksha Sadan in Ernakulum will also hold awareness events on 26 January for this one of a kind three-in-one moon event.
Where Can You See the Rare Lunar Trilogy?
In Chennai, the TNSTC will be making provisions for the enthusiasts to view the event, where they will have four telescopes and projectors from 6:45 pm to 9 pm. The Tamil Nadu Astronomy Association will be setting up telescopes in schools for parents and students.
In Hyderabad, the Astronomy Club at the University of Hyderabad will be getting together to view the spectacle.
In Bengaluru, the Breakthrough Science Society will be organising public viewings at Malleshwaram, Rajajinagar, Basavanagudi, Yeshwanthpur, Basaweshwanagar and Kengeri Satellite Town.
However, it can be viewed only partially through telescope.
(With inputs from The News Minute)
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