Lunar eclipse 2021 LIVE: Blood Moon and total eclipse happening NOW – latest updates and how to see it

SOCIAL MEDIA USERS GEAR UP FOR THE BIG MOMENT

DOES A FULL MOON REALLY ALTER YOUR MOOD?

Patients in mental hospitals were referred to, cruelly, as ‘lunatics’. This word stems from the Latin “luna”, which means Moon, and the “atic” suffix meaning “of the kind of”.

Historically, healthcare professionals believed that some mental health diseases were caused by the moon – something we now know not to be true.

However, many people in today’s society believe that the moon affects their emotions and thought processes.

Other’s believe that it’s not just humans who are affected by the white orb in the sky, animals seem different during moon cycles too.

Children have also said to be more hyper or emotional.

HOW LONG DOES AN ECLIPSE LAST?

It can last anywhere from a few seconds up to 100 minutes.

This upcoming eclipse is expected to last for around 14 minutes.

May’s total lunar eclipse will be most visible from the Pacific Ocean and surrounding areas.

BLOOD MOON OR FLOWER MOON OR SUPERMOON?

Lots of names are being used for the big moon event – Super Flower Blood Moon being the main one.

The Flower Moon happens every May without fail. But it will also be the closest the moon will come to the earth this year – which is referred to as a supermoon.

BUT, to top it all off, there will also be a total lunar eclipse and this is the first time it has coincided with a supermoon in almost six years.

WHEN CAN I SEE THE ECLIPSE?

Night sky watchers are set to enjoy a “super flower blood moon” in the early hours of this morning.

The spectacle is set to happen at around 5.30am with Hawaii expected to get the best views.

While the supermoon will be visible across the world, a partial eclipse will only be viewable in certain parts of the US and eastern Americas, as well as regions of east Asia.

WHAT IS A FLOWER MOON?

Every month has its own full moon, and every full moon has its own name.

May’s moon is called the Flower Moon, but has different names depending on which part of the world you are in.

Today’s full moon is also called a Blood Moon because as the moon enters the earth’s shadow it will turn blood red during the total lunar eclipse.

WHAT IS A SUPERMOON?

A supermoon happens when the full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to the earth’s orbit.

Supermoons often appear brighter and closer than normal, but the difference can’t always be seen by the naked eye.

There will only be four supermoons in 2021 and this one will be one of the brightest.

NASA SUN PROBE RELEASES FIRST PICTURES

The European Space Agency and Nasa’s Solar Orbiter was launched on its mission just over a year ago and managed to capture a mesmerising black and white video on February 12, 2021.

Sometimes solar eruptions are so big they can start geomagnetic storms that leave satellites vulnerable to disruption.

Nasa and the ESA are trying to learn more about them and the impact they can have on Earth.

HOW CAN YOU WATCH THE ECLIPSE?

Stargazing fans will be able to watch the eclipse over a live-stream on May 26.

Time and Date will be live-streaming the event on YouTube on Wednesday at 5:30am ET (10:30am BST).

The rare celestial event take place above the US, Australia, western South America and Southeast Asia.

MOON AND MARS WILL COME CLOSE TOGETHER

The Moon and Mars will make a close approach to one another this weekend in a rare celestial get together.

Stargazers in the US and UK should be able to spot the dazzling event with the naked eye in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The coming together, known to astronomers as a conjunction, will peak at 05:47 BST (00:47 ET), according to stargazing site InTheSky.org.

CHINA ROVER LANDS ON MARS

China has released the first images taken by its groundbreaking Martian rover, Zhurong, on the Red Planet – including a “selfie”.

The images beamed back to Earth by the high-tech robot showed obstacle-avoidance equipment and solar panels on the vehicle.

It makes China only the second country to successfully touch down on the Red Planet, after the U.S.

HOW CLOSE WILL THE MOON COME TO EARTH?

A Moon has to come within 90 per cent of its closest approach to Earth to be formally defined as a Super Moon.

That means the Moon needs to come within 224,865 miles of Earth and be a full Moon to boot.

According to Nasa, this week’s event is the year’s “most super” moon.

SOLAR FLARES COULD SHUT DOWN RADIO SIGNALS

Experts have warned the sun could shoot solar flares to Earth that cause radio blackouts.

Nasa previously explained: “The energy from a flare can disrupt the area of the atmosphere through which radio waves travel.

“This can lead to degradation and, at worst, temporary blackouts in navigation and communications signals.”

SUPER MOONS ONLY OCCUR DURING SOME MONTHS OF THE YEAR

The 2021 Super Moons are in April and May, although the March Moon was very large – as the June Moon will also be.

Many astronomers stick to a strict definition of what makes a Super Moon, which only considers the closest Full Moons at perigee in a given year.

By this definition, there will be two Super Moons this year: Super Pink Moon on April 27 and Super Flower Moon on May 26 respectively

WHEN DOES A LUNAR ECLIPSE OCCUR?

A lunar eclipse happens when the moon and the sun are on exact opposite sides of Earth and although the moon is in Earth’s shadow, some sunlight reaches the moon.

A lunar eclipse can occur only when the moon is full and can only be seen from Earth at night.

The last lunar eclipse was January 2019.

WHICH STATE WILL HAVE THE BEST VIEW?

According to NASA’s project scientist for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Noah Petro, “Hawaii has the best seat in the house and then short of that will be California and the Pacific Northwest.” 

It is also expected to be seen from the western half of North America, bottom of South America and eastern Asia.

Hawaii will have the best view of the total phase which will be visible in the contiguous US at 1.11 am HST.

WHEN WILL THE BLOOD MOON BE VISIBLE IN THE US?

The total lunar eclipse will be visible from 11 US states at varying times.

People in Texas may spot it from 6:11-6:25am.

New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Idaho and Utah will get visibility from 5:11-5:25am.

And, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington should get visibility from 4:11-4:25am.

NASA SPACECRAFT RETURNS WITH ASTEROID ROCK SAMPLES

A Nasa spacecraft has begun a 1.4billion-mile journey back to Earth after collecting rock samples from an ancient asteroid.

After almost five years in space, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx will return with rocks from the nearby asteroid Bennu.

WILL THE ECLIPSE BE VISIBLE FROM THE UK?

Unfortunately, it won’t be visible from the UK but stargazing fans will be able to watch it over a live-stream on May 26.

Time and Date will be live-streaming the event on YouTube on Wednesday at 5:30am ET (10:30am BST).

You’ll probably spot some other space channels doing similar things.

WILL NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA SEE THE BLOOD MOON?

New Zealand and Australia also will have breathtaking views of the lunar show.

The whole thing will last about five hours but the total eclipse will only happen for 15 minutes.

People on the Hawaiian Islands should step outside between 1.11 am and 1.26 am to see the best part.

Unfortunately, people on the East Coast of the US, Europe, Africa, and western Asia will not be in position to see the eclipse.

THE DREADED MERCURY IN RETROGRADE

Like the saying goes, Mercury is in retrograde – not only will it be happening next week, but May 26 will also mark a supermoon and total lunar eclipse. 

And all three combined will pose a “tremendous amount of emotion” for every star sign – in particular the three fire signs, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

Experts have also said it is a time we need to be very mindful of our emotions.

WHAT IS A SUPER MOON?

Although the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, it doesn’t create an eclipse because the Moon’s position relative to our home planet is slightly skewed.

And for a Super Moon, you also need the Moon to be in the correct position in orbit around Earth.

The Moon has an elliptical orbit, and isn’t always the exact same distance from Earth.

Its closest point is called the perigee, and its farthest is the apogee.

With a full Moon at the perigee, you get a Super Moon.

WHEN IS THE FLOWER MOON?

The flower moon is set to take place on Wednesday, May 26.

That’s the traditional name for the fifth full Moon of the year, and doesn’t mean anything in particular about its shape, size or colour.

However, it’s expected to be big and bright, and sport an orange-gold hue.

That’s because it’s a Super Moon, a reasonably rare lunar spectacle.

WHO COINED THE TERM ‘SUPERMOON’?

Richard Nolle first defined the Supermoon in 1979, which is now a widely-used term.

A Supermoon appears when a full Moon aligns with the point closest to the Earth during its elliptical orbit.

During this time it appears 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF MOONS

Here are some of the most interesting moon phases and when to see them…

A Blue Moon refers to the occasion when a full Moon appears for the second time in the same month, this is very rare.

The Harvest Moon appears around the time of the autumnal equinox when farmers tend to do their main crop harvesting.

A Supermoon appears when it is at its closest point to Earth and therefore at its brightest.

A Blood Moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse.