Tax Day Total Lunar Eclipse Kicks Off Blood Moon 'Tetrad'

The phases of the April 14-15 total lunar eclipse are shown with GMT timestamps in this NASA image from a video guide. The total lunar eclipse will affect two NASA spacecraft orbiting the moon since they rely on sunlight for power.
The phases of the April 14-15 total lunar eclipse are shown with GMT timestamps in this NASA image from a video guide. The total lunar eclipse will affect two NASA spacecraft orbiting the moon since they rely on sunlight for power. (Image credit: NASA)

Fancy a lunar eclipse? Skywatchers in the United States have the chance to see four total eclipses in the next 18 months, beginning with a "blood moon" on Tuesday (April 15), just in time for Tax Day.

This NASA graphic shows the months with total lunar eclipses between April 2014 and September 2015. This tetrad of total lunar eclipses features eclipses on April 15, Oct. 8, April 4, 2015 and Sept. 28, 2015. (Image credit: NASA)

The moon events will begin with the total lunar eclipse of April 15, which will be visible across North America (weather permitting) starting around 2 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT). The moon will shine red when the total eclipse happens, which will occur for about 78 minutes around 3 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT).

The total lunar eclipse "tetrad" — or group of four — will then continue with eclipses of the moon on Oct. 8, 2014, April 4, 2015 and Sept. 28, 2015. [How to See the April 15 Lunar Eclipse (Visibility Maps)]

A series of four total lunar eclipses in a row is called a tetrad. See how four blood moons of a total lunar eclipse tetrad work in this Space.com infographic. (Image credit: By Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

"The most unique thing about the 2014-2015 tetrad is that all of them are visible for all or parts of the USA," Fred Espenak, a NASA astrophysicist and eclipse specialist, said in a statement.

Tuesday's total lunar eclipse, for example, will be visible from most of North America, as well as parts of South America and Alaska.

Last week, rumors swirled online suggesting a link between the total lunar eclipse tetrad and biblical prophesies of the apocalypse because it would bring about "four blood moons." The theory was published in a book entitled "Four Blood Moons" by John Hagee in 2013.

But tetrads of moon eclipses are not super-rare, in Espenak's view.

"During the 21st century, there are nine sets of tetrads, so I would describe tetrads as a frequent occurrence in the current pattern of lunar eclipses," Espenak said. "But this has not always been the case. During the 300-year interval from 1600 to 1900, for instance, there were no tetrads at all."

As for the why the moon turns red during the eclipse, this is because it reflects sunsets and sunrises happening all around the world as the sun shines through the Earth's atmosphere. This can turn the moon a dusky red color, sometimes even resembling the color of blood.

12" Moon Globe. Buy Here (Image credit: Space.com Store)

Lunar eclipses occur during full moons, when the moon passes behind the Earth, with respect to the sun. The alignment can either completely obscure the moon with Earth's shadow (a total lunar eclipse), or partly covers the moon (a partial eclipse).

Because the moon's orbit is tilted, it does not align perfectly every month, lunar eclipses typically occur about twice a year, but they usually come in different flavors. For example, a total eclipse could be followed by a partial eclipse, and then followed by a penumbral eclipse — an event in which the moon just skirts through the outer edge of Earth's shadow.

And remember this if you venture outside early Tuesday to gaze at the moon: You may have to pay taxes on April 15, but seeing the total lunar eclipse is free. You only have to look up.

Editor's Note: If you snap an amazing picture of the April 15 total lunar eclipse, you can send photos, comments and your name and location to managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com.

Follow Elizabeth Howell @howellspace, or Space.com @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.

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Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace