A rare convergence of three separate lunar phenomena will shine down on the West Coast early Wednesday morning bathing residents in the reddish-hued light of the Super Flower Blood Moon.
As long as the skies are clear, stargazers on the West Coast will be able to see the total lunar eclipse above the western horizon starting at 4:11 a.m. PST lasting a total of 15 minutes.
Most of Humboldt County is predicted to be partly cloudy tomorrow morning. Mendocino and Trinity County residents could see it with predictions of partly cloudy both inland and on the coast.
The moon is considered “super” due to its proximity to the earth. Nasa.gov explains the moon’s orbit is not circular, but an oval, and “super moons” are closer to earth appearing larger.
The moon got the name “flower” from The Old Farmers Almanac due to the simultaneous blooming of flowers in May. Other names for the moon from around the globe include the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon. In the Buddhist tradition, the moon is referred to as the Vesak or Buddha Purnima moon, a holiday that celebrates enlightenment and the death of Gautama Buddha.
The moon is called a “blood moon” due to the reddish hue it will exhibit as it passes fully into Earth’s shadow causing a total lunar eclipse, the first since 2019. Nasa.gov explains the red hue is due to red and orange light refracted through the Earth’s atmosphere.
If you oversleep, do not despair, for another lunar eclipse is predicted this fall on the night of November 18-19, 2021.
