Published on 01:05 PM, January 31, 2018

Watch ‘super blue blood moon’ and lunar eclipse in Bangladesh sky

‘Super blue blood moon’, this unique astronomical event will not occur again in the next 35 years. This photo is taken at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. Photo: Star/ Firoz Ahmed
Zaid Kalam

If you miss it tonight, you will have to wait for another 35 years to get the chance to see it.  

In Bangladesh sky, the entire lunar event – also named "super blue blood moon" -- started at 4:49pm and ended at 10:09pm.

It will be a thrilling experience for Bangladeshis to watch this lunar trifecta -- super moon, blue moon and lunar eclipse.

Description of how tonight's "super blue blood moon" occurs. Graphics: AFP, Animation: Star
 
This unique astronomical event has created quite a stir among people all around the world as it is the first of its kind and will not occur in the next 35 years.

A super moon. A blue moon. A lunar eclipse. GIF made from AP video
 
Stages of the January 31, 2018, “super blue blood moon” (weather permitting) are depicted in Pacific Time with “moonset” times for major cities across the US, which affect how much of the event viewers will see. While viewers along the East Coast will see only the initial stages of the eclipse before moonset, those in the West and Hawaii will see most or all of the lunar eclipse phases before dawn. Photo: NASA
 
So, what are these moon events? Ablue moon is the second full moon in a month. A supermoon is a particularly close full or new moon, appearing somewhat brighter and bigger. A total lunar eclipse -- or blood moon for its reddish tinge -- has the moon completely bathed in Earth's shadow.

"This eclipse will be visible in Bangladesh if the sky remains clear," the Met Office in Dhaka says in a report adding that people in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Barisal, Rajshahi and Rangpur will be able to see it.

Watch 'super blue blood moon' and lunar eclipse from Bangladesh sky tonight by Daily Star on Scribd

NASA plans to provide a live stream of the moon from telescopes in California and Arizona, beginning at 5:30am EST.

"This full 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," NASA said on its website on January 18.

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