All eyes will be on the skies tonight as a rare ‘super blue blood moon’ will be seen shining above Donegal.
Tonight’s super blue blood moon is the first to grace the skies in over 150 years.
At around 2am tonight, the spectacle should be visible over Donegal weather permitting. The regional forecast indicates that for stargazers tonight, showers will become more isolated during the night with clear spells with a nip in the air (temperatures of 1 to 4 degrees).
David Moore, the chairperson of Astronomy Ireland, says that the last super blue blood moon was observed in 1866, and won’t be seen in Irish skies again until 2037.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland show today, Moore says that Ireland is on the wrong side of the earth to experience the ruby effect caused by the lunar eclipse, but we should circle January 21st 2019 in our calendars for when the blood moon will be seen in Irish skies.
NASA explains that tonight’s moon is special for three reasons: “It’s the third in a series of ‘supermoons,’ when the Moon is closer to Earth in its orbit — known as perigee — and about 14 percent brighter than usual.
“It’s also the second full moon of the month, commonly known as a ‘blue moon.’ The super blue moon will pass through Earth’s shadow to give viewers in the right location a total lunar eclipse.
“While the Moon is in the Earth’s shadow it will take on a reddish tint, known as a ‘blood moon’.”
Will you be taking pictures of the moon tonight? We’d love to see them! Send your snaps to info@donegaldaily.com
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