blood moon

noun

variants or Blood Moon

plural blood moons or Blood Moons

: a full moon that coincides with a full lunar eclipse and that has an unusually reddish appearance

Note: The red color of a blood moon is caused by the diffusion of the sun's light into the shadow cast by the Earth.

And when it [the full moon] is eclipsed by the shadow of the Earth, it is called a blood moon as it turns a crimson color.

—IFLSCIENCE.com (London)

Through the little windows over the deep double kitchen sink, I saw a big sliver of blood moon sinking below the distant mountains.

—David Erik Nelson

also : a full lunar eclipse during which a blood moon occurs

A blood moon is the unscientific name for a total lunar eclipse, which is when Earth passes in between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow over the moon as sunlight is blocked.

—BreakingNews.ie

Examples of blood moon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sanguine or blood moon are other common names for the hunter's moon. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 18 Oct. 2024

In 7 Days, Disney Says Rio says this is Agatha’s trial, given the blood moon outside, which indicates that the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2024

By Anna Gordon September 17, 2024 12:06 PM EDT On Tuesday evening, stargazers in North America, South America, Europe, and Africa will be treated to three celestial events taking place at the same time: the harvest moon, a blood moon, and a supermoon. —Anna Gordon, TIME, 17 Sep. 2024

Three lunar spectacles combined Tuesday night for an epic viewing experience for Texas stargazers: a super harvest moon, a blood moon, and a partial lunar eclipse. —Ariana Garcia, Chron, 18 Sep. 2024

During a total lunar eclipse, Earth’s shadow can turn the moon’s surface a striking red color, which is known as a blood moon, according to NASA. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 17 Sep. 2024

During a lunar eclipse, the Earth’s shadow partially blocks the sun’s light from reaching the moon, giving it a reddish appearance often referred to as a blood moon. —Anna Gordon, TIME, 17 Sep. 2024

After last month brought space enthusiasts a blue supermoon, September’s harvest moon will not only coincide with a supermoon, but also with a blood moon and partial lunar eclipse. —Chandelis Duster, NPR, 16 Sep. 2024

That phenomenon often creates a striking reddish hue known as the blood moon. —The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above