new years eve lunar eclipse – when and where

Posted by Geronimo Boosh on December 31, 2009 · 1 Comment

A blue moon and a partial lunar eclipse – what more can you ask for on new years eve?
Well, Tonight (December 31) both a very rare lunar eclipse and a “blue moon’ will take place.

The lunar eclipse will be visible between 6:52 p.m. to 7:54 p.m GMT, from all parts of earth where the moon will be above the horizon when the eclipse occurs: Asia, Africa, Europe, Greenland and most of Australia and Alaska. North and South Americans will have to wait for the next eclipse. Scientists say that this is the first time in 353 years that a lunar eclipse occurs on new years eve.

A lunar eclipse is an eclipse which occurs when the earth is between the moon and the sun, thus blocking the sun ray’s from reaching the moon. A lunar eclipse can only occur when the moon, the sun and the earth are almost exactly aligned. with the earth in between. This also means that a lunar eclipse can only occur when there is a full moon.

The Blue moon is a bit less exiting, because it is both not visible and not as rare. This phenomenon occurs very 2.7 years. The last time there was a blue moon on new years eve was in 1990. The next time will be in 2028.

So what is a blue moon?
In simple terms, a blue moon is an extra full moon. While most years have 12 full moons (one every month), some years have 13 full moons, because the lunar calendar and the solar calendar don’t match. The lunar cycle is 29.5 days, but the solar cycle is a bit longer, and contains roughly eleven days more. When these accumulate to a month, there is an extra full moon – the blue moon.