Total Lunar Eclipse And Supermoon
Source : Indian Express
GS III : Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights

Why in News ?

The Moon will have the nearest approach to Earth on May 26 and therefore will appear to be the closest and largest Full Moon or supermoon of 2021.

Key Facts

• The  event has a speciality with both Total Lunar Eclipse And Supermoon

  

• A supermoon and a total lunar eclipse have not occurred together in nearly six years.
• On this event two celestial events will take place at the same time.
• Because of the total lunar eclipse, the moon will also appear to be red.
• This is because the Earth will block some of the light from the Sun from reaching the moon and as the Earth’s atmosphere filters the light, it will soften the edge of our planet’s shadow giving the Moon a deep rosy glow. 

About Supermoon

• NASA notes that a supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closest to the Earth at the same time that the Moon is full.
• As the Moon orbits the Earth,
  • There is a point of time when the distance between the two is the least called the perigee when the average distance is about 360,000 km from the Earth
  • A point of time when the distance is the most called the apogee when the distance is about 405,000 km from the Earth.
• In a typical year, there may be two to four full supermoons and two to four new supermoons in a row.

Daily Current Affairs : Click Here