Blood Moon

A Lunar Eclipse occurs when the Earth's shadow(Umbra)falls on the moon.If the Earth's shadow completely covers the moon ,it is called a Total Lunar Eclipse. But a partial Lunar Eclipse happens only if the Earth's Umbra only partly covers the moon.Since Earth has an atmosphere that bends light around it's edge,the Earth's Umbra does not appear to be completely dark. So the totally Eclipsed Moon will reflect the color of the Light contained in Earth's shadow.TheEarth's atmosphere scatters out shorter wavelength light(Green through Violet)leaving mostly larger wavelength light(Red ,Orange&Yellow) in the Earth's Umbra.This is how Sunrises&Sunsets are Red and also most of the Lunar Eclioses are Red. Incidentally on the night of 14th-15th a total Red Moon had occurred in the sky.There are 4 more Lunar Eclipses scheduled in 2014-2015 The Moon's Orbit around the Earth is titled a little more than 5 degrees with respect to the plane of Earth's Orbit around the Sun(Known as the Ecliptic) So normally, a Full Moon is above or below the Earth's Umbra and that is why no Lunar Eclipse occurs on a Full Moon Day Every month the Moon's Orbit crosses the plane of the Earth's orbit around the sun in two places.These two points are called theLunar Nodes.If a Full moon occurs when the Moon is near a Node,then there is Lunar Eclipse. Conversely,a New Moon at this time results in a Solar Eclipse. So every one could watch for the next three Lunar Eclipses likely to take place in a span of One year. It is really Fun to watch Lunar&Solar Eclipses. But while watching the Solar Eclipse there is absolute need to protect eyes.Direct look towards Solar Eclipse might cause damage to the Eyes.It is always safe to watch either in the reflection of sun in water or most the popular method is to watch through dark films or Darkened Glasses. SreedharanMundanat 17th April 2014 06-50Hrs(IST)