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In March 2025, the world is set to experience a Blood Moon lunar eclipse. But what does this mean? Are we going to be visited by werewolves and vampires? Will our menstrual cycles or menopausal symptoms be affected?
Let’s dive in and see what all the ruckus about the Blood Moon lunar eclipse is.
What is a Blood Moon lunar eclipse?
Blood Moon refers to a total lunar eclipse, when Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon. The Earth’s shadow completely covers the Moon, giving it a reddish hue. This happens because sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere is scattered, and the red wavelengths of light are refracted toward the Moon, called “Rayleigh scattering”, making it appear red or copper-colored. Hence its name.
The term “Blood Moon” is often used in folklore and astronomy, sometimes associated with prophecy or significant celestial events. However, scientifically, it’s just a natural and predictable phenomenon.
What are some of the beliefs surrounding Blood Moon lunar eclipses in folklore?
Throughout history, Blood Moons and lunar eclipses have been imbued with various folkloric meanings across different civilizations.
In South America, the Incan Empire spanned centuries until its conquest in the 1530s by the Spanish. The Incans believed that a lunar eclipse signified that an animal (usually a jaguar) was devouring the Moon, known as the goddess Quilla. The reddish hue is the result of the animal attack. This belief led to rituals aimed at scaring away the jaguar to stop it from attacking the Moon or coming down to Earth and causing havoc.
A similar belief was held in Norse mythology, which explained lunar eclipses by the actions of the mythical wolves Sköll and Hati, who chased the Sun and the Moon across the sky. During an eclipse, it was believed that these wolves had caught the Moon. Similarly, in ancient Chinese culture, a dragon or three-legged toad known as Chan Chan ate the moon. Even here in Australia! Several Indigenous groups interpret lunar eclipses as a sign that the Moon is being eaten or swallowed by a celestial being or spirit.
The Celts centered the Moon’s movements in their culture. The Moon was essential in many Celtic traditions and rituals often associated with fertility. The earliest Celtic calendar, the Coligny calendar, is a lunisolar calendar, meaning it tracks both the phases of the moon and the solar year. It is designed to keep track of the moon’s phases, including the full moons and new moons and begins each month with a full moon.
The ancient Greeks interpreted lunar eclipses as signs of divine anger and portents of disaster or war. However, the Greek Philosopher Aristotle deduced the true reason behind lunar eclipses and proved the Earth was round while doing it!
How can I see the Blood Moon in Australia?
Unfortunately, Australians will not get the full Blood Moon lunar eclipse experience on March 14, 2025, that our friends in the northern hemisphere will have. Instead of a full eclipse, it is likely to be a partial eclipse, but it is still worth keeping an eye out for! Except for those in Western Australia, where it won’t be visible.
However, for those of us on the eastern coast, we should be able to catch a glimpse around moonrise time. Here are the expected times for moonrise in the capital cities on Friday, March 14, 2025 (local time):
- Brisbane — 6.04pm
- Darwin —7.02pm
- Sydney — 7.13pm
- Canberra —7.22pm
- Hobart —7.32pm
- Adelaide —7.35pm
- Melbourne — 7.40pm
You don’t need anything special to see the Blood Moon, just clear skies! So, if it’s clear this evening, step outside and take a look.
What are the next Moon events?
The next big lunar events are a partial solar eclipse on March 29 and a total lunar eclipse on September 7. So mark your calendars!
