End-of-the world forecast tops list of 6 myths about the blood moon
In spite of explanations from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, and other scientists that the blood moon or supermoon and the lunar eclipse on Sunday, Sept 27, is a natural phenomenon, myths about the moon continue to persist.
The science website Space.com listed six popular lunar myths that have persisted over the years, growing more popular this week as the fourth blood moon is expected to take place on Sunday. It notes that some of these myths are the result of simple misconceptions, while others reek of conspiracy.
Topping its list of myths is that the tetrad, or four lunar eclipses spread over 18 months, is an indicator that the world would end. The portal points out that while eclipse tetrads are rare, it has happened in the past, but no Apocalypse or Doomsday event happened.
Space.com writes that people thinking of things in the sky that they don’t understand are apocalyptic omens has ran throughout human history. Sarah Noble, programme scientist for NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer mission that ended in April 2014, clarifies that “Lunar tetrads are simply the result of orbital dynamics and geometry” and there is no need to “invoke the supernatural or end of the world.”
Another myth is that the moon grows bigger during moonrise, which is actually because of the optical effect called Ponzo illusion. There is also no dark side of the moon because during the new moon phase, when the moon’s surface is pointed toward Earth, that dark side is pointed toward the sun.
Other myths include the moon having no gravity, that there is a man on the moon and that earthlings did not land on the moon.
Rather than instill fear in people of an apocalypse because of the rare supermoon eclipse, CNN says it should instead bring wonder.
Describing the supermoon-eclipse, Chicago-based Adler Planetarium astronomer Mark Hammergren states, “It’s a beautiful sight in the nighttime sky.” He continues, “It’s a way of connecting us to the universe at large. It gives us this view that there’s this bigger picture than just what we’re concerned with in our daily lives,” quotes CNN.
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