The mystery behind the Blood Moon

Vol 28, Issue 01, 12^th September 2025

A Blood Moon is a natural event that recently occurred on Sunday, September 7th, and was visible from countries such as Iran and Dubai. This is one of the most fascinating celestial events that people around the world look forward to, and once you see it, you are likely to fall in love with its beauty. For centuries, people created myths, fears, and mysteries around this phenomenon, but today scientists explain it as nothing more than a natural spectacle with fascinating scientific reasons behind it.

Why Does the Moon Turn Red?

The Blood Moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth comes directly between the Sun and the Moon. Instead of disappearing into complete darkness, the Moon appears red due to a process called Rayleigh scattering. This means that only the orange and red wavelengths (the longest wavelengths) of sunlight pass through Earth’s atmosphere, just like what happens during sunrise and sunset. This amazing effect is what gives the blood moon its dramatic name.

An interesting fact is that the shade of red depends on Earth’s atmosphere at that time. Various factors like volcanic eruptions, wildfires, or high levels of pollution can make the Moon appear darker or even brownish-red.

Cultural Beliefs and Symbolism:

Now let’s take a look at some of the stories and myths people believed about the Blood Moon in the past:

• Some Native American tribes believed that a Blood Moon meant the Moon was sick and needed healing. To help, they prayed or performed rituals to “cure” the Moon.
• In medieval Europe, people thought that witches or demons had stolen the Moon’s light with the help of the devil. The red glow was seen as a sign of dark magic.
• Some clans believed that this natural event was a warning of war or the death of a king. They saw it as a bad omen and, to counter its effect, placed a temporary king on the throne to protect the real ruler.

Thankfully, science has since proven that these stories are not true. The Blood Moon is simply a beautiful and predictable part of astronomy.

How Often Do Blood Moons Occur?

If you are interested in seeing the next Blood Moon, you should know that lunar eclipses occur about three times a year on average, but only a few of them result in a true Blood Moon. To witness this phenomenon, you need both luck and to follow astronomers’ announcements.