A rare ‘Super Flower Blood Moon’ lunar eclipse
Tonight, peel your eyes away from the screen and look up at the skies instead. A total lunar eclipse – termed as the ‘Super Flower Blood Moon’ – will see it turning into a shade of beautiful copper-red. This phenomenon is a rare cosmic showing of three different lunar occurrences: first, a supermoon, where the satellite’s monthly orbit brings it closest to Earth; second, a total lunar eclipse when the moon moves into the Earth’s shadow; and third, a blood moon, where the typically pearl-white orb appears dusky red to the eye during an eclipse.
According to reports, the celestial performance will take place between 4.47pm and 9.49pm, but the eclipse can only be seen in Singapore from 7.04pm. This will also be the first total lunar eclipse to happen since 2019. The ‘Flower Moon’ gets its name from ancient beliefs in the Northern Hemisphere, where it coincides with the blossoming of spring – and budding of flowers.
In a Facebook post shared by the Science Centre Observatory (SCOB), the moon will be in total eclipse from 7.04pm to 7.25pm, during which the blood moon may be observed. “This is also assuming you have a good view of the Eastern sky horizon,” it added. For the best chance to catch a sight of the phenomenon, the SCOB recommends finding an elevated spot that offers an unblocked view. Then, orientate using a mobile phone compass and face 110° clockwise from North. It added: “The alternative is to simply observe which direction the Sun is setting and observe in the opposite direction.” Be sure to tune in to this once-in-a-blue (or blood) -moon performance; the next total lunar eclipse in Singapore will take place on November 8 next year.
