Lunar eclipse 2021: Spectacular pics from around world capture 'Blood Moon' lunar eclipse

HOW DO FULL MOONS AFFECT ASTROLOGY?

With the first ballsy blood moon happening in May, it's fair to say this month is full on.

Like the saying goes, Mercury is in retrograde - not only will it be happening next week, but May 26 will also mark a supermoon and total lunar eclipse.

And all three combined will pose a “tremendous amount of emotion” for every star sign – in particular the three fire signs, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

Astrologer and spiritual adviser Rose Smith says how full moons can ordinarily bring out the “crazy” in people, but this time round we can expect “people doing crazier things than usual.”

She explains that this can be attributed to pent up “emotional tension.” 

Rose continues: “People should be trying to release this tension around the Super Blood Moon in healthy ways, sitting with their feelings and endeavouring not to deny them.

“Especially women, generally speaking, traditionally we hold in emotion and make excuses for other people.”

WHEN WAS THE TERM SUPERMOON COINED?

It wasn’t until 1979 that Richard Nolle first defined the Supermoon, which is now a widely-used term.

The astrologer explained that the phenomenon is “a new or full Moon which occurs with the Moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit”.

Based on Nolle’s theory, the moon would have to be around 226,000 miles away from the Earth to be considered "super".

Because of its relatively close proximity to the Earth, the celestial body’s surface appears a lot bigger when a Supermoon occurs.

HOW WAS THE SUPERMOON DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS FULL MOONS?

The “Flower Moon” is the second of two consecutive Supermoons, so called because of its appearance around spring.

It will appear to be 30% brighter and 14% larger than previous full moons. 

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE MOON?

The moon's phase is the shape of the moon viewed from Earth based on how the sun is shining on it.

There are four primary moon phases and four secondary moon phases.

The four primary phases are: First Quarter, Full Moon, and Last Quarter.

There four secondary phases are: Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous, and Waning Crescent.

WHAT CAUSES A LUNAR ECLIPSE?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth passes between the sun and the moon, which casts a shadow on the moon.

Additionally, a lunar eclipse can only take place during a Full Moon.

Lunar eclipses occur up to three times a year.

WHAT IS A SUPER FLOWER BLOOD MOON?

The phenomenon that occured this week is labeled a blood moon because of it's red color.

During a lunar eclipse, the red, orange, and yellow, wavelengths pass into earth’s atmosphere instead of the normal blue.

These colors then get projected onto the moon, causing the red tint.

A super moon is a full moon or new moon when it comes closest to the earth during its orbit.

This May super moon was also nicknamed a flower moon because its occurrence during spring.