In a coincidence that’s almost too hard to get your head around, the moon will be eclipsed by the Earth and turn a deep, blood red in the early hours of Tuesday—the start of Election Day, when many are predicting a giant Red Wave.
Just to be clear, I’m not particularly prone to reading tea leaves, but it’s still kind of cool. Here’s something a little fun amidst all the serious races that will be decided tomorrow:
On Tuesday, the Earth, sun and moon will align to create a Blood Moon eclipse. It will be the last total lunar eclipse until 2025. Mark your calendars. pic.twitter.com/gzVNszA6RA
— Today Years Old (@todayyearsoldig) November 6, 2022
From iHeart:
The Election Day will get off to an ominous start on Tuesday thanks to the last total lunar eclipse for the next three years. The total lunar eclipse will get underway just after midnight Pacific time as the moon approaches the Earth’s shadow.
Over the next two hours, the moon will slowly dim until its totality at 2:16 a.m [PST]., when it reaches its darkest point. The moon will also appear to glow with a brownish-red color because the light from the sun will bend around the Earth’s atmosphere before hitting the moon. That is why it is called a Blood Moon eclipse. [Emphasis theirs.]
The moon will be eclipsed for approximately 90 minutes before it starts to move out of the Earth’s shadow, and will end around 3 a.m. PST. You might want to get out of bed for it, because it will be the last one till March 14, 2025. (Although a penumbral eclipse will occur on May 6, 2023. A penumbral eclipse occurs when: “Earth’s outer shadow falls on the Moon’s face.” I know that because I have Google.)
What exactly is going on in the celestial skies? Let’s take a look:
— VITAL (@VITAL_tome) November 6, 2022
Does it mean anything? The New York Times is quick to point out that, no, it couldn’t possibly:
During the early hours on Tuesday, darkness will slip across the face of the moon before it turns a deep blood red. No, it isn’t an Election Day omen — it’s one of the most eye-catching sights in the night sky. [Emphasis mine.]
Yeah, sure. I’m sure if the moon were turning blue on Election Day they’d be singing a different tune. The Washington Post seems even more freaked out, writing that the red color will be “sinister” and a “stain” upon the moon. Not a word about how it will be beautiful and a chance to reflect on the awesome power of the universe.
A full eclipse has never happened on Election Day before:
Did you know? The total eclipse of the moon will fall on Election Day in the United States, November 8, 2022. This will be the 1st Election Day total lunar eclipse in U.S. history. 🌑
Read about 1st-ever the Election Day eclipse: https://t.co/1O2rkx1iZ3
📸 Fred Espenak. pic.twitter.com/jtge9h9IEq
— EarthSky (@earthskyscience) November 6, 2022
RedState’s Bonchie has already made his election predictions, and he’s liking what he sees. If he’s correct, a lot of our readers should be very happy with Tuesday’s results (whenever they’re all finally tallied). We won’t get everything we want, but it’s likely there will be mostly good news. As I said, I’m not overly superstitious, but it’s hard not to take a little joy in a red moon on the very day we’re praying for a Red Wave…
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