A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind the Earth and into its shadow. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are exactly or very closely aligned to each other, with Earth between the other two. A lunar eclipse can occur only on the night of a full moon.
In very simple words, a lunar eclipse is when the Moon passes through the shadow of the planet Earth. This can only occur when there is a full Moon. The Moon becomes red in color whenever there is a lunar eclipse. In ancient times, it would make things difficult because the back then people used the Sun and Moon to tell time and seasons. The Moon becoming red in color scared people as they were unsure of the reason behind it and most believe that it was the God’s wrath on the mankind.
Why does the Moon become red?
This happens because Earth’s shadow blocks the sun’s light which reflects off the moon.
In astronomy, this is called syzygy. The three celestial bodies, the Sun, the Moon and the Earth are aligned (in a straight line), with the earth in the middle.
The effects of lunar eclipse on the human body
According to NASA, there is no evidence yet that proves lunar eclipse has any physical effect on the human body. But lunar eclipse does lead to some psychological effects because of people’s belief and actions. This psychological effect may lead to some physical effects as well.
Tidal effect
The Moon causes tides in the ocean through its gravitational pulls. It does the same to the human bodies as they contain 70 % water. But as human bodies are not as big as oceans and seas, the effects are hardly noticeable. Even pregnant ladies are advised not to go out during an eclipse but there is no science backing this up.
Effects on the human eyes
During the last lunar eclipse, it was advised to wear protective eye wear so as to protect people’s eyes from the bright sunlight. But generally during a lunar eclipse, the moon is not as strong so it’s safe to look at it without any protective glass. Though during a solar eclipse, retinal injuries can be caused if seen without protective glasses.
In short, a lunar eclipse is completely harmless.
