GOALPARA, Jan 30 - The district committee of rationalist organisation Ellora Vigyan Mancha (EVM) will make arrangements, one at Gitanagar Bihufield and the other near DN Singha stadium, Beltola, for witnessing the rare celestial phenomenon of Blue Moon, Super Moon and total lunar eclipse after a gap of 150 years tomorrow.
Assistant Prof Dr Ranjit Choudhury said that the awareness sessions, which will describe the rare celestial phenomenon, will be held at these venues. He added that although telescopes and binoculars will be available at these venues but the magnificent celestial phenomenon can be seen through the naked eye.
He also informed that this rare phenomenon last occurred in 1866, but that too for the Americans only and not for everyone around the globe. In Asia, the last Blue Moon and total lunar eclipse occurred on March 30, 1982.
He said that the second full moon in an English calendar month is termed as Blue Moon but the moon actually does not turn blue. While describing the Super Moon, he said that the moon at perigee, which is closest to the earth, will look larger than the average moon, and hence, it is termed as Super Moon and the coming lunar eclipse will become more spectacular with the moon looking larger than the usual size.
He also mentioned that during the total lunar eclipse, the moon passes directly behind the earth into its umbra or shadow. Due to the moon appearing reddish as a result of the total lunar eclipse, it is also called as Blood Moon.
Prof Choudhury also informed that the eclipse will start around 5.18 pm (IST) when the moon will pass through the shadow of the earth and will remain totally eclipsed till 7.37 pm. Thereafter, the moon will emerge out of the shadow and the partial eclipse will end around 8.41 pm.
Meanwhile, Amal Medhi, who is a rationalist and also a sky enthusiast has prepared the three dimensional model of the celestial phenomenon for the awareness sessions.
