Rare ‘Super Blue Blood Moon’ leaves millions awestruck in India

New Delhi/Bengaluru, Jan. 31 (IANS): The much awaited “Supermoon” became visible in India a little later than expected on Wednesday but when it did, millions of stargazers across the country relished the rare celestial triple delight with a sense of awe.

The January 31 sighting of a “Blue Moon” and a total lunar eclipse occurred in India for the first time after 1982.

While the Moon was in the Earth’s shadow, it took on a reddish tint known as a “blood Moon”.

During the eclipse, the Moon was just a day past perigee which is the closest point to Earth in its orbit — making it appear very large and bright (about 14 per cent) — and so a “Supermoon”.

Lastly, it is also the second full moon of the month, commonly known as a “blue moon”. The last full Moon of the month was on January 2.

Many organisations across the country stepped in to enhance the show which was also visible to the naked eye.

“Apart from Delhi, Space India organised the event in five other cities — Chennai, Bengaluru, Surat, Dehradun and Meerut – and also at DAV school in Gurgaon. Over 500 people gathered at India Gate to watch this phenomenon,” Dr. Mila Mitra, Scientific Officer, Head, Research and Publications, told IANS.

“This lunar eclipse is special because a Supermoon (when Moon appears larger than usual when its closest to Earth), blue Moon (second full Moon of each month) and blood Moon (Moon appears red during eclipse) will all coincide at once,” its Director Pramod G. Galgali told IANS.

Not just a visual treat, but the celestial spectacle was an opportunity for astronomers to study Earth’s natural satellite, the Moon.

The Moon, which goes around the Earth in an elliptical orbit, gets closest to the Earth at one point — known as perigee.

Several Hindu temples were shut across the state on Wednesday, with many devout Hindus staying away from eating till the end of lunar eclipse, as it is feared to be inauspicious.

Renowned Hindu worship places were shut till the end of the eclipse at about 9.30 p.m.