What's the Difference between a ''Total Lunar Eclipse'' (Blood Moon) and the ''New Moon'' Moon-Phase?
@mythociate (21437)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
May 15, 2022 5:43am CST
Microsoft Rewards tells me that the Total Lunar Eclipse (which is the Blood Moon) is tonight (May 15, 2022) starting a little before 10:30 E.T. https://www.bing.com/search?q=Total+lunar+eclipse
Then they quote Wikipedia to tell me what 'the Total Lunar Eclipse' is---"when the moon moves into the Earth's shadow."
But then, what's the New Moon? It's "when the Moon & Sun have the same 'ecliptic longitude.'"
What's the difference? I'm not sure, but I think the picture (and the report at the URL in its caption) start to explain---I mean, it probably TOTALLY explains if you understand the astronomy-terminology they use; but either I don't, or it's a bit early in the morning for me.
Basically, the moon is 'a Blood Moon' because--when Earth & Moon line up at the "ecliptic"--we can see Earth's corona-shine on Moon (where--if we were on Moon--we'd see a ring around Earth like we see around Moon during a Solar Eclipse.)
2 people like this
2 responses
@GoAskAlice (5809)
•
15 May 22
The difference is you cannot see the 'new' moon. They are not caused by the same phenomenon.
3 people like this
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
15 May 22
I'm a little bit more awake now, so I'm "seeing" what I wasn't seeing before 
the blood moon is actually a 'full' moon with the Earth lined up in between (rather than 'slightly above or -below' which is the way it normally goes)
the blood moon is actually a 'full' moon with the Earth lined up in between (rather than 'slightly above or -below' which is the way it normally goes)2 people like this
@sabtraversa (13070)
• Italy
15 May 22
Visually, except for the red moon, it doesn't change much. When the Total Eclipse is at its peak, you see what you'd normally see during a New Moon: nothing. 
Then they're just two different phases, New Moon is when the Sun is conjunct Moon, illuminating the side we can't see. Full moon is the opposite. For example, now the Sun is in Taurus and the Moon is in Scorpio (the opposite sign of Taurus), we're having a Scorpio Blood Moon! 
Then they're just two different phases, New Moon is when the Sun is conjunct Moon, illuminating the side we can't see. Full moon is the opposite. For example, now the Sun is in Taurus and the Moon is in Scorpio (the opposite sign of Taurus), we're having a Scorpio Blood Moon! 1 person likes this
