Don't Miss Rare 'Blood Moon' Lunar Eclipse Tonight
April 14, 2014
By ELIZABETH GONZALEZ
Turn your gaze to the stars tonight for an eerie and spectacular view of the blood moon. At 12:53 a.m. ET, the Earth will begin to position itself between the sun and the moon for the first of a series of four total eclipses to conclude in September 2015.
The phenomenon is known as a tetrad, in which the moon is completely covered by the earths umbral shadow for four eclipses in a row, as opposed to only partial eclipses that fall in the outer penumbra. But rather than succumbing to complete darkness, the moon will glow red as it receives the refracted light that spills over the Earths circumference.
The series is a rare occurrence in history, with large spans of time, such as the 300 years between 1600 and 1900, witnessing none. But the 21st century will be more promising, according to Fred Espenak, who works for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and specializes in eclipse predictions.
Frequency sort of goes through 585-year cycles, the astrophysicist explains. So you go through centuries where you dont have any, and centuries where you have a number of them.
The next tetrad will begin in 2032.
Other factors add to the singularity of this years event. For one, North America will have front-row seats to the show, not always a guarantee. It just so happens that this part of the western hemisphere, along with some of South America, will align perfectly with the cast shadow. The rest of the world, on the other hand, will experience partial visibility or none at all.
But while the event is sure to be a breathtaking sight, for some it signals a certain foreboding. Something is about to change, Pastor John Hagee of the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, writes in his newest book on the four blood moons.
Because many biblical references cite the celestial bodies, Hagee says, God uses the sun, moon and stars to send signals to us on the earth.
Among his most inspirational verses is Joel 2:30-31: And I will show wonders in the heavens ... the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of The Lord."
Troll said
11:14 AM, 04/14/14
Krink is hiding in the root cellar.
Uke said
12:50 PM, 04/14/14
Yep, we're dirt! So sez...Texas televangelist John Hagee
When and where you can watch the total lunar eclipse happening tonight and tomorrow morning. (USA TODAY, USA NOW)
Tuesday's first of four lunar "blood moon" eclipses mark one of two earth-shaking events, depending on your viewpoint: Either a critical moment in the unfolding prophecy of the End Times, or Tax Day.
It could also be just a spectacularly beautiful astronomical event over the next two years.
The tetrad or four consecutive and complete lunar eclipses occurring at approximately six-month intervals will all be visible over the United States this year and next, according to NASA lunar eclipse expert Fred Espenak.
While Espenak sees it as a frequent and naturally occurring event, best-selling author and Texas televangelist pastor John Hagee sees the four blood moons as evidence of a future "world-shaking event" that begins to fulfill End Times prophecy.
The controversial 73-year-old founder of Texas' Cornerstone Church says he has been preparing for this tetrad for years. The preparation includes a book Blood Moons: Something is About to Change and an online TV special Tuesday.
"What is the prophetic significance (of the four blood moons)? Is this the end of the age?" Hagee asked his congregation during a sermon shortly after his book was released, Christianity Today reports.
He cites Acts 2:19-20 as a sign: "And I will show wonders in Heaven above and signs in the Earth beneath, the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord."
In extensive remarks available online on his interpretation of the Blood Moons, Hagee says, "I believe that the heavens are God's billboard, that He has been sending signals to planet Earth, and we just haven't been picking them up."
He adds: "God is literally screaming at the world: 'I'm coming soon.'"
A spokesman for the televangelist said tells USA TODAY on Monday that Hagee "has not associated the blood moons with the end of days."
In general, evangelicals view the End Times not as the immediate end of the world, rather as a period when certain events must unfold, according to prophecy, over a long period of time prior to the return of Jesus. Evengelicals, however, would agree that many of these End Times events -- particularly as related to Israel -- are happening now.
Hagee, who sees the tetrad as particularly meaningful for Israel, says previous tetrads, in 1492, 1948 and 1967, coincided with such events as the expulsion of Jews from Spain at the end of the Inquisition, statehood for Israel, and the Six-Day War.
NASA's Espenak does not consider tetrads as particularly rare, noting in a statement that there are nine sets of tetrads during the 21st century. He notes that there have been periods with no tetrads, notably from 1600 to 1900.
"The most unique thing about the 2014-2015 tetrad is that all of them are visible for all or parts of the USA," Espenak said in a prepared statement.
The full eclipse is known as a "blood moon" because, NASA explains, the sunset red glow that rings the Earth as it blocks the light from the sun is cast upon the moon.
The first one in this tetrad begins at 2 a.m. ET Tuesday. The other dates are Oct. 8, April 4, 2015, and Sept. 28, 2015.
In 2008, Hagee was criticized for suggesting that Hurricane Katrina was a result of God's wrath toward the city of New Orleans for planning a rally for gays and lesbians.
He later apologized for his remarks and expressed sympathy for those who suffered, saying "ultimately neither I nor any other person can know the mind of God concerning Hurricane Katrina. I should not have suggested otherwise."
Uke said
12:07 AM, 04/15/14
Tu cloudy, and so much background light... Practically impossible ya see a damn thing in the skies over Seattle!
The Krink said
1:49 AM, 04/15/14
The Krink concurs with Ukes hope of seeing this with the naked eye. It raining out now so us in the GPNW will have to view pixs of it on the net or news. The Blood Moon times 4 as 3 more of these eclipses happen this year I think. Just know its quite a convergence of celestial energy that doesnt happen very often happening right now and you have to think its a "tipping point" to what I dont know except if it comes in the way of "earth-changes". The ring-of-fire is very active right now. I think "earth-changes" superceed just about any nations plans to conquer the world right now. This next week is the Jupiter square Uranus and oppose Pluto at its exact meeting. Uranus square Pluto is also exact at the same time. Something big is going to happen for sure.
'Blood moon' will be a sight to behold, weather permitting
Iph Gawd has his say!
Don't Miss Rare 'Blood Moon' Lunar Eclipse Tonight
Turn your gaze to the stars tonight for an eerie and spectacular view of the blood moon. At 12:53 a.m. ET, the Earth will begin to position itself between the sun and the moon for the first of a series of four total eclipses to conclude in September 2015.
The phenomenon is known as a tetrad, in which the moon is completely covered by the earths umbral shadow for four eclipses in a row, as opposed to only partial eclipses that fall in the outer penumbra. But rather than succumbing to complete darkness, the moon will glow red as it receives the refracted light that spills over the Earths circumference.
The series is a rare occurrence in history, with large spans of time, such as the 300 years between 1600 and 1900, witnessing none. But the 21st century will be more promising, according to Fred Espenak, who works for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and specializes in eclipse predictions.
Frequency sort of goes through 585-year cycles, the astrophysicist explains. So you go through centuries where you dont have any, and centuries where you have a number of them.
The next tetrad will begin in 2032.
Other factors add to the singularity of this years event. For one, North America will have front-row seats to the show, not always a guarantee. It just so happens that this part of the western hemisphere, along with some of South America, will align perfectly with the cast shadow. The rest of the world, on the other hand, will experience partial visibility or none at all.
But while the event is sure to be a breathtaking sight, for some it signals a certain foreboding. Something is about to change, Pastor John Hagee of the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, writes in his newest book on the four blood moons.
Because many biblical references cite the celestial bodies, Hagee says, God uses the sun, moon and stars to send signals to us on the earth.
Among his most inspirational verses is Joel 2:30-31: And I will show wonders in the heavens ... the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of The Lord."
Yep, we're dirt! So sez...Texas televangelist John Hagee
When and where you can watch the total lunar eclipse happening tonight and tomorrow morning. (USA TODAY, USA NOW)
(Photo: Bill Ingalls, NASA)
Tuesday's first of four lunar "blood moon" eclipses mark one of two earth-shaking events, depending on your viewpoint: Either a critical moment in the unfolding prophecy of the End Times, or Tax Day.
It could also be just a spectacularly beautiful astronomical event over the next two years.
The tetrad or four consecutive and complete lunar eclipses occurring at approximately six-month intervals will all be visible over the United States this year and next, according to NASA lunar eclipse expert Fred Espenak.
Got a nighttime picture? Share it with us here
While Espenak sees it as a frequent and naturally occurring event, best-selling author and Texas televangelist pastor John Hagee sees the four blood moons as evidence of a future "world-shaking event" that begins to fulfill End Times prophecy.
The controversial 73-year-old founder of Texas' Cornerstone Church says he has been preparing for this tetrad for years. The preparation includes a book Blood Moons: Something is About to Change and an online TV special Tuesday.
"What is the prophetic significance (of the four blood moons)? Is this the end of the age?" Hagee asked his congregation during a sermon shortly after his book was released, Christianity Today reports.
He cites Acts 2:19-20 as a sign: "And I will show wonders in Heaven above and signs in the Earth beneath, the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord."
In extensive remarks available online on his interpretation of the Blood Moons, Hagee says, "I believe that the heavens are God's billboard, that He has been sending signals to planet Earth, and we just haven't been picking them up."
He adds: "God is literally screaming at the world: 'I'm coming soon.'"
A spokesman for the televangelist said tells USA TODAY on Monday that Hagee "has not associated the blood moons with the end of days."
In general, evangelicals view the End Times not as the immediate end of the world, rather as a period when certain events must unfold, according to prophecy, over a long period of time prior to the return of Jesus. Evengelicals, however, would agree that many of these End Times events -- particularly as related to Israel -- are happening now.
Hagee, who sees the tetrad as particularly meaningful for Israel, says previous tetrads, in 1492, 1948 and 1967, coincided with such events as the expulsion of Jews from Spain at the end of the Inquisition, statehood for Israel, and the Six-Day War.
NASA's Espenak does not consider tetrads as particularly rare, noting in a statement that there are nine sets of tetrads during the 21st century. He notes that there have been periods with no tetrads, notably from 1600 to 1900.
"The most unique thing about the 2014-2015 tetrad is that all of them are visible for all or parts of the USA," Espenak said in a prepared statement.
The full eclipse is known as a "blood moon" because, NASA explains, the sunset red glow that rings the Earth as it blocks the light from the sun is cast upon the moon.
The first one in this tetrad begins at 2 a.m. ET Tuesday. The other dates are Oct. 8, April 4, 2015, and Sept. 28, 2015.
In 2008, Hagee was criticized for suggesting that Hurricane Katrina was a result of God's wrath toward the city of New Orleans for planning a rally for gays and lesbians.
He later apologized for his remarks and expressed sympathy for those who suffered, saying "ultimately neither I nor any other person can know the mind of God concerning Hurricane Katrina. I should not have suggested otherwise."
Tu cloudy, and so much background light... Practically impossible ya see a damn thing in the skies over Seattle!
The Krink concurs with Ukes hope of seeing this with the naked eye.
It raining out now so us in the GPNW will have to view pixs of it on
the net or news. The Blood Moon times 4 as 3 more of these
eclipses happen this year I think. Just know its quite a convergence
of celestial energy that doesnt happen very often happening right
now and you have to think its a "tipping point" to what I dont know
except if it comes in the way of "earth-changes". The ring-of-fire
is very active right now. I think "earth-changes" superceed just
about any nations plans to conquer the world right now.
This next week is the Jupiter square Uranus and oppose Pluto
at its exact meeting. Uranus square Pluto is also exact at the
same time. Something big is going to happen for sure.
'Blood moon' will be a sight to behold, weather permitting
http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/11/tech/innovation/blood-moon/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
-- Edited by The Krink on Tuesday 15th of April 2014 01:50:35 AM