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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
The first blood moon will occur between March 13–14 and will be best visible from North America, with totality lasting 65 minutes.
—
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025
This bathes our natural satellite in a rusty glow, giving this celestial event its more accurate nickname: a blood moon.
—
Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Dec. 2024
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.
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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.
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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
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Word History
First Known Use
1817, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Blood moon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blood%20moon. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.
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