The lunar phenomena known as a blood moon as well as a supermoon are set to coincide Sept. 27 for the first time in 33 years, and the Landolt Astronomical Observatory in Nicholson Hall will host a viewing open to the public.
A blood moon, more commonly known as a lunar eclipse, occurs when the sun fully covers the moon. A supermoon occurs when the moon appears unusually large due to its closeness to Earth.
Sunday will be the last time a lunar eclipse will occur until March 2018, and the two events will not occur at the same time for another 18 years.
Physics and astronomy professor Bradley Schaefer will host the total lunar eclipse viewing, beginning at 8 p.m. — just before the eclipse becomes visibly noticeable at 8:08 p.m.
Schaefer said the phrase “blood moon” stems from the blood-red color the of the moon when it’s behind the sun.
“They happen about once a year at random,” Schaefer said. “The last one happened April 4 this year, but we won’t have one for a while now.”
There will be three telescopes set up on the rooftop of Nicholson Hall — the observatory’s Alvan Clark telescope, with an 11.5 inch diameter, and two standard telescopes. But Schaefer said using a telescope isn’t necessarily the best way to view the eclipse, and binoculars, cameras with long lenses or the human eyes would do the job better.
The last time the lunar eclipse happened, Schaefer said it was covered by clouds, but he said he hopes the weather will permit for better
viewing this time around.
“You can view the eclipse from almost anywhere,” Schaefer said. “If you don’t want to come out to the observatory, I suggest getting a significant other and watching the lunar eclipse from a graveyard nearby.”
Schaefer said he’s seen 30 lunar eclipses in his lifetime and has notes on each of them. He plans on taking notes Sunday as well.
Physics graduate student Zach Edwards has worked with Schaefer on education and public outreach programs while pursuing his master’s degree. Ever since coming to LSU, he said he has always had fun with Schaefer.
“It’s always energetic and fun to share astronomy with the students,” Edwards said. “It’s giving them a look into how cool science can be.”

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Zoe Geauthreaux

LSU physics graduate student Zach Edwards adjusts the telescope in the Landolt Astronomical Observatory in Nicholson Hall. The campus rooftop observatory will host a viewing of the upcoming lunar eclipse on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 beginning at 8 p.m.