Various claims about the end of the world and “Judgement Day” can be found threaded into the long history of humanity and has become a common re-occurrence that, most likely, will always be something that raises its needless anxiety-inducing head. For my short 27 years on this grand old planet I have heard the many different claims that “the end is nigh” which are usually followed by “Do you fancy buying this book about how I know and how you can survive?” I can even remember the claims of Y2K and as a child being petrified of not knowing what would happen when the clock struck midnight on 31st December 1999! When I look back to that irrational fear I felt, it makes me grateful for that silly claim, as the lesson I learned as I celebrated New Year’s Day 2000 with my family was invaluable, always check the facts!

 

Whats happening during a total Lunar Eclipse (image credit: NASA)

What’s happening during a total Lunar Eclipse (image credit: NASA)

 

Now apparently the “end is nigh” again. We have already addressed the fact an asteroid is NOT hitting the Earth in September 2015,  but surprise, surprise there are more claims that the Rapture will be upon us in September and it is thanks to a lack of understanding about Lunar eclipses! So let’s take a look at what a lunar eclipse is.

Lunar eclipses happen at least twice a year and they happen when the Moon travels into the shadow of the Earth. This is when the Sun, Earth and Moon are aligned but not necessarily perfectly. Unlike a solar eclipse a lunar eclipse can last for a few hours and it is visible anywhere it is night. Lunar eclipses also only happen when there is a full Moon which has inspired many myths and superstitions throughout history by itself.

But not every lunar eclipse is a total one. There are three types:
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse – The imperfect alignment of the Sun, Earth and Moon. This is when the Moon moves into the outer part of the Earth’s shadow, called the penumbra, and never touches the actual umbra, the inner shadow, of the Earth. This type of eclipse is often not noticed and many people would be deceived in thinking they are looking at a normal full Moon as direct light from the Sun is still reaching it.

Partial Lunar Eclipse – When the Moon doesn’t take a full dip into the Earth’s shadow! Again this occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon are not precisely aligned, but are closer to it than the alignment of a penumbral lunar event. This is when only a part of the Moon finds itself in the darkest part of Earth’s shadow so part is in the umbra and part is in the penumbra. The part of the Moon that is in the umbra will therefore have a dark shadow cast over it.

Total Lunar Eclipse – When the Moon is in the full shadow of the Earth. This is when the Moon finds itself behind the Earth. It is when the Sun, Earth and Moon are perfectly or even nearly perfectly aligned and the Moon is swallowed up by the umbra of the Earth. This will cause the moon to turn a beautiful deep red colour for as long it is in the umbra which in recent years has earned the total lunar eclipse the nickname of the “Blood Moon.”

Some you may wonder why this happens. When in the full umbra of the Earth you would think the Moon would be black or even invisible, and this would be the case if the Earth had no atmosphere, but thankfully for us it does and here is the real beauty of the lunar event. When sunlight reaches the Earth the atmosphere filters out the various colours in the spectrum of light, which is the same way in which the sky appears blue. The red colour of the light spectrum is first bent towards the Earth as it enters the atmosphere and then bent again as it is exiting the atmosphere. This may sound quite confusing but it is a process called Rayleigh scattering of sunlight in the Earth’s atmosphere.

 

Who will see the eclipse (Image credit: NASA)

Who will see the eclipse (Image credit: NASA)

 

To paint a picture for you, this would mean if you were standing on the Moon during a lunar eclipse you would see a bright reddish ring around the Earth and on the Earth we will see this reddish colour on the Moon. What you are looking at is the projected colour of the various sunrises and sunsets happening on the Earth during the duration of the eclipse. Quite a beautiful and breath-taking sight and the next one will grace the night sky in most of North America, South America, Europe, west Asia and parts of Africa on September 28th 2015.

But did I mention some people aren’t exactly excited about it happening? In fact many are actually quite scared about it happening due to the fact that this total lunar eclipse will be the final in a tetrad of total lunar eclipses. If you look though the recordings of all the various lunar eclipses since records began there is no real distinct pattern, jumping from partial, penumbral and total lunar eclipses. But sometimes there will occur four successive total lunar eclipses within two years and this is referred to as a tetrad. In the 21st century there is to be a total of eight tetrads so they could be regarded as quite a common celestial occurrence. But some are campaigning to stain the tetrads innocent occurrence with more prophecies of doom.

In particular the preacher John Hagee has really tried to hammer home his theory that this current tetrad, that is due to end in September 2015, has “purposefully” coincided with various Jewish holidays and is a sign of the “end times”. He believes that this is in accordance with various religious texts from the book of Joel to the book of Revelations that refers to the ‘Sun turning to darkness” and the “Moon to blood” in the end of days.

Hagee has used the occurrence of the tetrad to highlight how “God controls the Earth, Sun and Moon” to send the world a message of his coming. But he tries to force the idea that humanity has ignored these signs for centuries and that it is no coincidence that the four total lunar eclipses are happening on Jewish holidays. It’s on this fact he is at least right. The occurrence of lunar events happening on Jewish holidays is not a coincidence but not by some divine intervention, rather Judaism placed their holidays on a lunar calendar and not a solar calendar. So really it can’t be seen as a divine act, rather a human calculation!

 

John Hagee addresses US politicians in 1997 (Image credit: Christians United for Israel)

John Hagee addresses US politicians in 1997. (Image credit: Christians United for Israel)

 

Many of Hagee’s facts are also inaccurate with various claims about historical Jewish events occurring during a total lunar eclipses or Blood Moons. He claims that a blood Moon marks events that begin with tragedy but end in triumph and he even gives examples, and it is with his own examples that he knocks his own credibility. In his own words, “In 1967, Israel won the Six-Day War and recaptured Jerusalem.” Sounds good if you just assume that that means a blood moon occurred during this time but as a young me would say, check the facts. During the Six-Day War ( 5-10 June 1967) there was no lunar eclipse, not even a single one! The war was in fact fought roughly midway between lunar eclipses in April and October 1967! How could anyone preach something that they haven’t even checked the facts on? Would it be to sell books? Did I mention that Pastor Hagee wrote a bestselling book called Four Blood Moons: Something Is About To Change that even reached Number4 in the New York Times’ best sellers list. To some it may seem to be a man trying to reveal the truth and to others it may seem like someone trying to profit from the fears of those riddled with anxiety about how the world will end. If you really want to go through his many inaccurate claims this article from Bad Science Debunked gives a thoroughly clear (and dare I say it entertaining) breakdown!

I truly hope this article has helped ease the minds of even one person who reads it as no one should waste even a minute of their lives worrying about something that is not happening, life is too short to be spent growing grey hairs! I for one will be watching the Total Lunar Eclipse on the 28th September, but not with fear in my mind, but rather with joy at seeing such a stunning celestial wonder!

(Article by Kerry Scullion, Education Support Officer)


28 Comments

orion270 · June 9, 2016 at 12:38

very good info, i only knew about the blood moon , due to the mythology of werewolves

Felix · May 31, 2016 at 21:56

hello why curiosity tells me that astronaut do not believe in God please answer me is it true?

TLO · October 3, 2015 at 14:46

Did the blood moon have climate change affects on us? It was a pretty site.

    admin · October 5, 2015 at 13:05

    No, why do you think it would?

Fed Up · September 28, 2015 at 00:47

I’m fed up reading about the end of time. what you wrote above explains it in great detail and I thank you for this article. Pagans are the most spiritual minded people that I know and trust yes, there’s good and bad sprits just like there is good and bad in people. The bible has been man made and designed to give division as a away of controlling the people world wide so don’t believe in the bible as it’s pointing towards the new world order and having the world as one controlled by one. This is my view and my opinion this opinion is not that of armaghplanet.com Love our planet, Mother nature made it, what you give towards mother nature she will re-pay you, even if it’s planting of a seed that grows into a wonderful and beautiful tree. Thank her for the beautiful creation. Many Blessings to you all. )o(

dennis · September 25, 2015 at 02:24

These events are based on calculated dates according to prophecy by historical theologians and experts in their field.it’s true that the calendars may night line up perfectly, but scholars have a general idea of what is to happen and when it is to happen according to biblical prophecy.its based on a number of years and signs that we are to look for.

    admin · September 25, 2015 at 09:05

    Dear Dennis, if believing that the movements of celestial bodies are controlled by supernatural forces to cause events in human affairs is central to your religious belief that is your privilege.

Jon · September 23, 2015 at 05:25

An end-time “rapture vision” by a Scottish lassie in 1830 has resulted these days in tens of millions of “Left Behind” books (and movies) sold, plus the current “blood moons” craze. Antidotes include “Left Behind or Led Astray?” (You Tube) and “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty” (Google).

Eddie · September 22, 2015 at 15:57

You cant say it wont happen. Your not God. Theres signs in the bible regarding the blood moon end times.

    Joshua · September 23, 2015 at 23:32

    Quick question for ya. Why are all of you so sure it’s THIS particular eclipse that spells doom for mankind? Why have none the thousands of previous ones resulted in the apocalypse?

    (Edited for rude and aggressive language, please don’t do that again- ADMIN)

Tracy · September 21, 2015 at 22:15

Just a question: Are you saying that a Tetrad did NOT occur in 1967?

    admin · September 22, 2015 at 14:55

    Dear Tracy, thank you for pointing out that muddled sentence, I hope I have clarified it. Yes, there was a tetrad spanning 24 April 1967 – 6 October 1968.

kiara secatero · September 17, 2015 at 01:40

Soo what it gonna happen or no

    admin · September 17, 2015 at 07:34

    Dear Kiara, if you read the article you will see that there will be an eclipse.

Bob · September 15, 2015 at 12:07

I’ve recently become fascinated with the sky’s and photographing the milky way. I may not agree with John Hagee but rest asured the scripture does say tho watches the sky’s for signs of His return. Regardless Jesus Christ is coming again and He will split the eastern skyes. Just be ready and have your heart right with Him.

Chrystie · September 15, 2015 at 02:08

Guess what? It IS Divine for the tetrad to fall on feast days! Because He can change the days of the months! No new moon was sighted yesterday, so now Sukkot will NOT fall on the blood moon. It will fall no earlier than the 29th. 😀

Tommy · September 7, 2015 at 18:07

But what if it does happen? An apocolyse happens after the fourth blood moon your not God so how can you say it wont end?

    admin · September 9, 2015 at 08:25

    Dear Tommy, I am sorry but you might to need to read the article again!

Enzo · September 7, 2015 at 14:44

thanks for this. I saw a friend’s post about the end of days link and they’re telling about asteriod hitting the earth and scary events that will happen in the 4th blood moon. I got so worried and paranoid the whole day.

Anonymous · September 6, 2015 at 21:00

I’d guess that’s the case, thanks for clearing it up 🙂

    codybirthday · September 7, 2015 at 03:29

    this is also reassuring. it’s my birthday, and i worry so badly about it. sometimes i cant even go to sleep. but tbh, in terms of universe time and how long it’s existed, the end times are nigh! in about 100s of 100s, or even 7,000s of years, the sun will explode! 🙂

Khaihid · September 6, 2015 at 16:23

Hi thanks for calming me down with this article i got scared about this blood moon prediction i was too scared that this might actually happen after the 28th September. Thanks alot

    admin · September 7, 2015 at 08:28

    You’re welcome, glad we could help!

Anonymous · September 2, 2015 at 07:00

Hi, thanks for saying that the upcoming tetrad is no harm and and pinpointing it clearly

but when it comes to eclipses, I think I saw one on Halloween of 2014 or 2013, I live in Northern Ireland like you, but when I looked out at the moon on that night there was a weird shade behind the moon, it looked like another planet, and no, I’m not going to say “Well I think it was Planet X/Nibiru” but it really looked like it this planet had 2 moons, when I looked it up on the internet, Boom! Nothing, so can I get an explanation,
Was it a penumbral lunar eclipse, or people flashing a giant light at the moon

    admin · September 2, 2015 at 09:55

    Dear Anonymous, there hasn’t been a lunar eclipse at Halloween in years, do you think it was the one on 18-19 October 2013 that you saw? Can I ask if you were looking at the Moon from indoors that night? The reason why I ask is that if you look at the Moon through double-glazed windows you can often see one, two or even three reflections of the Moon in the glass. If you follow this link to a Google search I hope you’ll see what I mean.

Blood Moons and the Malachy Prophesy. | Jaycee's Commentaries · September 30, 2015 at 22:35

[…]  The Truth About the Blood Moon Tetrad  […]

The September 2015 Night Sky | Astronotes · September 3, 2015 at 15:08

[…] Finally at the end of the month we have a total lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind the Earth into its shadow, known as its umbra. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely, with the Earth in the middle. A lunar eclipse can only occur on the night of a full moon. The type and length of an eclipse depend upon the Moon’s location relative to its orbital nodes. This Moon will be coppery-red in colour, and will be the last in the so-called “blood moon tetrad”. For more information on this eclipse and the superstitions that have created around it see The Truth About the Blood Moon Tetrad. […]

The Truth About the September 2015 Asteroid Impact | Astronotes · August 18, 2015 at 20:56

[…] over the Americas and western Europe on 28 September 2015  (for more on the amazing spectacle see our article The Truth About the Blood Moon Tetrad) and some disaster hoax proponents declare this to be ominous but this is, like all prophesies of […]

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