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Wednesday 31st
January 2018 super full moon & total lunar eclipse The Moon will be located
on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be fully
illuminated. This phase occurs at 13:27 UTC. Since this is the second full
moon in the same month, it is sometimes referred to as a blue moon. This is
also the last of two super moons for 2018. The Moon will be at its closest
approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
The average distance of
the moon from earth’s center is about 382,900 kilometers. A Super Full Moon
is as close as 360,000 kilometers from Earth’s center. The furthest away
from earth is more than 405,000 kilometers. A total lunar eclipse
occurs when the Moon passes completely through the Earth's dark shadow, or
umbra. During this type of eclipse, the Moon will gradually get darker and
then take on a rusty or blood red color. The eclipse will be visible
throughout most of western North America, eastern Asia, Australia, and the
Pacific Ocean
(Visibility Table from
TimeandDate.com) * The Moon is above the
horizon during this eclipse, so with good weather conditions in Apia, the
entire eclipse is visible. Tide Calendar
for Samoa
Thank You Geoscience |
Definition
A Super Full Moon happens when a full moon
coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth or perigee. It becomes
14% bigger and brighter. (NASA)
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