What is a blood moon?

A blood moon is set to happen on March 13 and March 14 this year, but what exactly is a blood moon?

In mid-March, everyone in the U.S. will have the opportunity to experience a blood moon, according to Space.com. It will also be visible in parts of Europe, Australia, Asia, South America and Africa.

What causes a blood moon?

A blood moon occurs when the moon is in a total lunar eclipse. It has no real significance; however, it does give the moon a red-tinted look. This can only happen during a full moon when the sun is fully illuminated against the moon's surface.

At certain times, the Earth will pass in between the sun and the moon, cutting off the sunlight and causing an eclipse. Then, a little bit of light from our sunrises and sunsets will fall on the moon's surface, causing it to look red.

“Lunar eclipses are nice because people can stay home, step outside from time to time to see the changes, and stay comfortable,” NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Brenda Culbertson told NewsNation affiliate KSNT. “Earth’s shadow is much larger than the lunar shadow that hits Earth in a thin line.”

Can a blood moon be different shades of red?

A surfer rides a wave as a super blood moon rises above the horizon at Manly Beach on May 26, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Yes, a blood moon's shade of red can depend on many factors, such as:

The amount of pollution
Cloud cover
The amount of debris in the atmosphere

If an eclipse occurs during a volcanic eruption, for example, it might appear as a darker red because of the particles in the air.

“When [the] moon reaches the umbra, people notice it becoming darker and usually changes to a deep red, however, that is not always the case,” Culbertson said. “The deep red color is why people call most total lunar eclipses 'Blood Moons.'”

What is a super blood moon?

A supermoon happens when the moon is at its closest point to Earth and is a full moon, according to NASA. During this time, the full moon is a bit closer than it normally is, so it appears larger and brighter.

If a lunar eclipse happens at the same time, this can cause a "super blood moon." However, a supermoon doesn't always have a red tint. NASA said that supermoons and lunar eclipses are different events and do not always happen at the same time.

NASA also notes that there are two to four lunar eclipses in a single year.

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