Alarm clocks were going off early across the U.S. this morning for those who wanted to witness the Super Blue Blood Moon.
I might have slept in if it were just a Blue Moon, which is the second of two full moons to appear in one calendar month. Apparently this happens every 2.7 years, so I will be more careful when using the term “once in a blue moon” in the future.
Three or four times a year the new moon reaches its closest point to Earth and causes a Supermoon, which is well documented on Facebook.
But the Blood Moon, which gets its name from the red color of the moon during a total lunar eclipse, is a big deal and might have been enough on its own to get me out of bed.
Combine all three of these lunar happenings at once and we had a celestial trifecta! The spectacle was visible across Asia and parts of North America.
Scientists are excited about the event for research on the moon’s surface. I just think it’s amazing that the last time this celestial trifecta was visible in the U.S. was 1866.
Preparing to get up early to witness the Super Blue Blood Moon made me wonder why I was interested in viewing the lunar event. I’m not particularly interested in this type of science or in getting up early for anything.
I do, however, love a good cultural or natural phenomenon. I get excited about participating in the big events of our time or witnessing natural beauty. I value unique experiences and sharing them with others. I'll admit that I also suffer from FOMO, fear of missing out.
Maintaining passion for life and all its wonders becomes increasingly important as we age. We are born curious about everything and then narrow our focus as adults. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the demands of work and family, and neglect pure passion and curiosity. The goal is to find a balance that truly ignites your sense of wonder more than once in a blue moon.