Science Q & A
Q. Is it true that the next lunar eclipse isn't for two years?
Rachael Federico
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Sci/Tech
There are a few myths I feel obligated to dispel, now that I am on the topic. Firstly, you cannot go blind from watching the lunar eclipse any more than you can go blind from masturbating. There are a lot of students who get the lunar eclipse mixed up with the solar eclipse. You cannot go blind from looking at the moon at night, period, whether it is being covered by the Earth's shadow, or not. The solar eclipse, however, did make Galileo go blind, so I do not advise watching that without the proper gear.
Secondly, the lunar eclipse is not the same as a new moon. A new moon is when the moon is simply positioned on the opposite side of the Earth during its normal orbit. You are not able to see it because it is blocked by the Earth. During the new moon phase, you can see a "full" moon during the day, but not during the night.
Thirdly, a blue moon does not mean that the moon is colored blue. The most commonly used definition of a "blue moon" simply means more than one full moon during the same month. However, the official definition just refers to an extra full moon during the year. The Farmer Almanac's definition of blue moon states, "The third full moon in a season of four full moons." Incidentally, last week's eclipse was actually a blue moon according to this latter definition. A "black moon" is when there does not happen to be a full moon during a calendar month.
Finally, during an eclipse, the moon does not get brighter. Instead, what you are seeing is light from the sun refracted through the Earth's atmosphere like a giant lens, creating a reddish tinge. Additionally, after staring at the moon for a little while your eyes will adjust a bit, just as they do when you are in a dark room. There is also an optical illusion created by the contrast between the lighter and darker regions of the moon.
Secondly, the lunar eclipse is not the same as a new moon. A new moon is when the moon is simply positioned on the opposite side of the Earth during its normal orbit. You are not able to see it because it is blocked by the Earth. During the new moon phase, you can see a "full" moon during the day, but not during the night.
Thirdly, a blue moon does not mean that the moon is colored blue. The most commonly used definition of a "blue moon" simply means more than one full moon during the same month. However, the official definition just refers to an extra full moon during the year. The Farmer Almanac's definition of blue moon states, "The third full moon in a season of four full moons." Incidentally, last week's eclipse was actually a blue moon according to this latter definition. A "black moon" is when there does not happen to be a full moon during a calendar month.
Finally, during an eclipse, the moon does not get brighter. Instead, what you are seeing is light from the sun refracted through the Earth's atmosphere like a giant lens, creating a reddish tinge. Additionally, after staring at the moon for a little while your eyes will adjust a bit, just as they do when you are in a dark room. There is also an optical illusion created by the contrast between the lighter and darker regions of the moon.
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