multiple celestial events

On January 31 we will be treated to a quadruple cosmic whammy of a show - a blue blood super moon and total eclipse. 

While people in the Eastern Hemisphere saw their last Blue Moon total lunar eclipse in 1982, for the Western Hemisphere, this upcoming eclipse will indeed be the first Blue Moon total eclipse since 1866.

This global map shows the areas of visibility (weather permitting) for the "super blue blood moon" eclipse of Jan. 31, 2018. ~ NASA 

Alaska and Hawaii are in the best position for viewing this event; the eclipse will happen during the predawn hours of Jan. 31, with the moon high in the sky.

From Northern California, the northwest corner of Nevada, all of Oregon and Washington, the Idaho panhandle.

As well as the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and most of Alberta, the moon will set after it completely exits the Earth's dark umbral shadow (6:08 a.m. PST, 7:08 a.m. MST).

For the rest of North America, the eclipse will still be in progress when the moon sets.

This week, we will concentrate solely on viewing the moon during the total phase of the eclipse. During the 76 minutes that the moon is completely immersed in the Earth's dark umbral shadow.

How bright this ring around the Earth appears depends on global weather conditions and the amount of dust suspended in the air. A clear atmosphere on Earth means the moon will appear bright during the lunar eclipse.

But if a major volcanic eruption has recently injected particles into the stratosphere, the moon will likely appear very dark.

It would be interesting to see how the eruption of Mayon volcano in the Philippines will affect this eclipse. wonder | wander | women look forward to it!