>> KATRINA: HELLO FRIENDS OF
NASA!
I'M KATRINA JACKSON AND WE'RE
HERE AT NASA'S GODDARD SPACE
FLIGHT CENTER IN GREENBELT,
MARYLAND.
>> WELCOME TO OUR STUDIO FROM
WHERE YOU MAY BE WATCHING.
AND FOR THE NEXT 25 MINUTES OR
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING
ABOUT TOMORROW MORNING'S LUNAR
ECLIPSE, THE MORNING OF
JANUARY 31ST, WHICH WE'RE
CALLING THE “SUPER BLUE BLOOD
MOON,” AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME
OF THE LATEST NASA SCIENCE ON
THE MOON.
TO HELP ME DO THAT, I'M JOINED
TODAY BY
DRS. MICHELLE THALLER AND NOAH
PETRO, WHO ARE BOTH FOUNTAINS OF
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ALL THINGS MOON
AND ALL THINGS SPACE.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY BURNING
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MOON, LEAVE
A COMMENT ON WHICHEVER PLATFORM
YOU'RE USING - WHETHER THAT'S
FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, OR YOU CAN
USE THE HASHTAG #ASKNASA ON
TWITTER - AND WE'LL ANSWER A FEW
OF YOUR QUESTIONS LIVE.
BUT FIRST, LET'S GET SOME OF THE
INFORMATION.
MICHELLE, WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING
ON WITH THE MOON TONIGHT, AND
HOW CAN PEOPLE WATCH IT?
>> WE HAVE THREE WONDERFUL
THINGS THAT ARE LINING UP
TONIGHT.
WE'RE CALLING IT THE SUPER BLUE
BLOOD MOON.
WHAT IS HAPPENING TONIGHT IS A
LUNAR ECLIPSE.
AND THAT HAPPENS WHEN THE MOON
MOVES INTO THE SHADOW OF THE
EARTH.
BUT THE WONDERFUL THING IS THAT
THE MOON WILL BE TURNING RED AS
THAT HAPPENS.
THE MOON WILL MOVE TO THE SHADOW
OF THE EARTH, TURNING RED,
CALLING IT THE BLOOD MOON, AND
THEN MOVING OUT.
THE PEOPLE ON THE WESTERN PART
OF THE UNID STATES, YOU SEE
HOW MUCH OF THE ECLIPSE IS
VISIBLE DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU
ARE IN THE COUNTRY.
THE MOON WILL BE SETTING AS THE
ECLIPSE STARTS SO WE WILL NOT
SEE THE RED MOON, BUT IF YOU'RE
IN CENTRAL UNITED STATES AND IN
THE WEST COAST YOU HAVE A CHANCE
TO SEE THE ENTIRE ECLIPSE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING
BEFORE DAWN.
YOU SEE HERE THESE ARE TIMES,
PACIFIC STANDARD TIMES.
IF YOU'RE ON THE WEST COAST THE
ECLIPSE WILL BEGIN AT 3:30 IN
THE MORNING.
THE DARKEST, DEEPEST PART OF THE
ECLIPSE IS 5:30 IN THE MORNING,
AGAIN, PACIFIC TIME.
WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE COUNTRY,
TAKE THIS AND MOVE THE TIMES
AROUND TO WHERE THEY ARE FOR YOU
AND FOR THE EAST COAST THINGS
WILL BE SETTING AS THE ECLIPSE
BEGINS.
THE REASON WHY THE MOON WILL
TURN RED, IF YOU'RE ON THE MOON
SURFACE, THE EARTH IS GNG IN
THE WAY OF THE SUN.
IN A WAY YOU'RE HAVING A TOTAL
ECLIPSE OF THE SUN IF YOU'RE
STANDING ON THE SURFACE OF THE
MOON.
THE MOON IS LIKE SCATTERING TO
THE EDGE OF THE EARTH'S
ATMOSPHERE.
THAT'S WHY THE SUNSETS ARE GOING
ON ALL AROUND THE PLANET.
THE REASON WHY IT'S RED IS THE
SUNLIGHT HAS TO PASS THROUGH A
LARGE AMOUNT OF AIR ON THE SIDE
OF THE EARTH, THAT SCATTERS ANY
WERE YOU LIGHT AND LET'S THE RED
LIGHT COME ON THROUGH.
THE RED MOON YOU'LL SEE IS THE
EFFECT OF ALL THE SUNRISE AND
SUNSETS REFLECTING OFF THE MOON,
WHICH I THINK IS REALLY LOVELY.
THAT IS THE BLOOD MOON.
THE ECLIPSE THAT IS GOING ON.
THE OTHER THING GOING ON IS THE
SUPER MOON.
THE SUPER MOON HAPPENS WHEN THE
FULL MOON IS LARGER THAN NORMAL
BECAUSE THE MOON IS CSER.
TONIGHT THE MOON WILL APPEAR IN
THE SKY ABOUT 14% LARGER THAN
NORMAL.
EVEN THOUGH THAT IS A LITTLE
CHANGE IN SIZE THAT ADDS TO THE
BRIGHTER MOON, AND THAT YOU WILL
NOTICE.
NOW THE REASON THIS HAPPENS IS
THAT THE MOON IS ELIP AT
THISCAL.
SO WHAT IS THE BLUE MOON?
THE BLUESMETHE BLUE MOON IS A CR
TRIVIAL THING.
AND WE HAVE A SUPER BLUE BLOOD
MOON.
>> THAT MEANS A TOTAL LUNAR
ECLIPSE THAT PEOPLE ON THE
WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY CAN
VIEW TOMORROW MORNING.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY WERE ABLE TO SEE THE
TOTAL ECLIPSE IN THIS PAST
AUGUST THAT WENT ACROSS THE
CENTRAL PART OF THE UNITED
STATES.
NOAA, I THINK YOU BROUGHT SOME
PROPS FOR US.
>> Noah: I DID.
>> Katrina: WITH THESE PROPS I
HOPE YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHAT ARE
THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE
SOLAR ECLIPSE AND THE LUNAR
ECLIPSE AND HOW WE EXPERIENCE
THOSE EVENTS.
>> Noah: ABSOLUTELY.
FOR THOSE WHO WERE ABLE TO
EXPERIENCE THE SOLAR ECLIPSE,
LET'S RECAP WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
IN THE EVENT ON THE 21ST, WE
HAVE THE SUN BEING BLOCKED BY
THE MOON--I'M SORRY, THE SUN'S
LIGHT BEING BLOCKED BY THE MOON
FROM HITTING THE EARTH SURFACE.
THE MOON PASSES DIRECTLY BETWEEN
THE EARTH AND THE SUN, AND THAT
SHADOW WAS CAST ON THE EARTH.
FOR OF YOU IN THE PATH OF
TOTALITY, AND IN AREAS THAT HAD
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ECLIPSE
YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THAT THE
TEMPERATURES DROPPED WHERE I WAS
IN OREGON WE HAD A 12-DEGREE
FAHRENHEIT TEMPERATURE DROP.
THAT'S QUITE NUMBER.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING WITH THE MOON.
TOMORROW MORNING IT'S A LITTLE
BIT OF THE OPPOSITE.
THE SUN STAYS PUT, AND THE EARTH
WILL PASS BETWEEN THE EARTH AND
THE SUN.
AS MICHELLE MICHELLE WAS TALKI,
TTHE MO MOON WILL TURN THAT
BEAUTIFUL RED COLOR.
THE MOON SURFACE WILL COOLDOWN.
THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE MOON
WILL COOLDOWN.
THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR SCIENCE
REASONS, AND ONE MAJOR REASON IS
THAT IT WILL TURN DOWN IN
ADDITION TO TURNING THAT
BEAUTIFUL RED COLOR.
WHAT WE WILL SEE TOMORROW
MORNING IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE
SAW ON THE 21ST OF AUGUST LAST
YEAR.
OF COURSE, THE ROLES ARE
REVERSED, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO
BE IN A SPECIAL SPOT TO SEE IT.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE
ECLIPSE HAPPEN.
>> THIS IS REALLY NOT TO SCALE.
YOU COULD FIT A MILLION EARTHS
IN THE SUN.
>> OKAY.
SO IT'S SUCH A SHARED CULTURAL
EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE SINCE
THE DAWN OF HUMANITY TO LOOK AT
ECLIPSES AND THE MOON AND
ANYTHING IN THE NIGHTTIME SKY.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR
VIEWERRERS.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT ARE
YOUR STORIES.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MOST
MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES LOOKING
UP.
WE'RE CURIOUS TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT
YOUR EXPERIENCES ARE, AND I
THINK IT COULD BE REALLY FUN FOR
ALL OF YOU WATCHING TO GET TO
KNOW EACH OTHER IN THE COMMENTS
BY SHARING YOUR FAVORITE SKY
WATCHING MEMORIES.
IF YOU'RE JOINING US, WE'RE LIVE
IN GREEN BELT, MARYLAND.
I'M KATRINA JACKSON.
I'M JOINED BY DOCTORS MICHELLE
AND NOAA, AND WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT TOMORROW'S SUPER BLUE
BLOOD MOON.
WE'RE GOING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
IN A LITTLE BIT.
YOU CAN LEAVE THEM IN THE
COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER.
WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH THE
COMMENTS AFTERWARDS AND
ANSWERING SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS
THERE, SO KEEP THEM COMING.
IN THE MEANTIME, I HAD A
QUESTION FOR YOU, MICHELLE.
I KNOW NASA WILL BE CELEBRATING
ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY.
NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF APOLLO 11
WHEN ASTRONAUTSES WALKED ON THE
MOON.
WHAT IS LEFT TO LEARN AND
EXPLORE ON THE MOON, AND WHAT DO
YOU HOPE TO SEE IN THE COMING
DECADES.
>> YOU WOULD THINK THAT AFTER
ALL THIS TIME STUDYING THE MOON
WE WOULD UNDERSTAND IT ENTIRELY,
BUT THAT IS FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
TALKING ABOUT THE ANNIVERSARY.
AS WE GO INTO THIS WONDERFUL
CELESTIAL EVENT, IT'S THE
60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VERY
FIRST SPACECRAFT EXPLORED.
IT'S BEEN 60 YEARS SINCE THE
UNITED STATES LAUNCHED IT'S
FIRST SATELLITE.
AND THE APOLLO ASTRONAUTS WERE
UP ON THE MOON.
AMAZINGLY THOSE ASTRONAUTS
BROUGHT BACK MOON ROCKS AND THEY
TURNED OUT TO BE DIFFERENT THAN
WHAT WE EXPECTED.
WE'RE STILL OBSERVING THE MOON.
WE HAVE THE LRO, LUNAR RECOULD
RECOGNIZANCE ORBITAL.
WHEN WE EXAMINE THOSE MOON ROCKS
THEY SEEM TO BE REMNANTS OF
A VIOLENT EVENT.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE MOON WAS
FORMED WHEN TWO PLANETS
COLLIDED, THE EARTH BEFORE WE
KNOW IT AS IT IS, AND ANOTHER
PLANET COLLIDED TOGETHER, AND
THE DEBRIS FLEW OFF AND BECAME
THE MOON.
THAT COALESCED INTO A SPHERICAL
OBJECT, IT WAS ENOUGH THAT THE
GRAVITY COULD BRING IT TOGETHER.
THEN OVER BILLIONS OF YEARS
THERE WERE MORE IMPACTS THAT
SHAPED THE SURFACE OF THE MOON.
UNLIKE THE OFFICER, THE OFFICE-E
EARTH HAS AN ATMOSPHERE, BUT THE
MOON'S SURFACE SHOWS US WHAT
HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 4 BILLION
YEARS.
IN STUDYING THE MOON AND THOSE
MOON ROCKS AND UNDERSTANDING
THAT T THE SOLAR SYSTEM WAS A
VIOLENT PLACE.
WE NOW THINK THERE IS EVIDENCE
THAT THAT HAPPENED MANY TIMES.
THERE WERE PLANETS THAT COLLIDED
WITH EACH OTHER AND POSSIBLY
THROWN OUT OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
AND THE SOLAR SYSTEM WE KNOW
TODAY IS A REMNANT FROM THAT.
THINK ABOUT THE PROFOUND THING
THAT WE LEARNED FROM THAT ONE
TRIP WHERE THEY TOOK THAT
SAMPLE.
NOW THEY'RE THINKING OF NEW WAYS
TO GO BACK TO THE MOON.
THERE IS A LOT MORE TO DISCOVER
UP THERE.
WE'RE FAR FROM KNOWING WHAT
THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOON.
>> SO WE'VE BEEN WITH THE MOON
FOR A WHILE WITH THE LUNAR
RECOGNIZANCE OR BITTER.
>> ONE OF THE WONDERFUL LEGACIES
ABOUT HAVING A SPACECRAFT AT THE
MOON OVER THE YEARS WITH LRO,
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REWRITE OUR
UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOON GOING
FROM THE MOON WHERE WE HAD THE
SAMPLES, AND NOW THIS DATA SET
THAT ALLOWS US TO TAKE AN ENTIRE
TOUR OF THE MOON.
THIS IS A TEASER OF WHAT WE
HAVE, AND WE HAVE A GLIMPSE OF
ONE OF THE BIGGEST CRATERS OF
THE MOON.
IT'S A VERY DEEP IMPACT CRATER,
ONE OF THE YOUNGEST AND
3.8 BILLION YEARS OLD.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING
BEING YOUNG, 3.8 BILLION YEARS
PUTS IT AT THAT YOUNGER AGE.
THIS IS THE GRAVITY DATA THAT
LET'S US PROBE THE INTERIOR OF
THE CRUST OF THE MOON IN UNIQUE
WAYS.
WE LOOK AT THE SOUTH POLE.
THE POLES ARE UNIQUE
ENVIRONMENTS
WE KNOW THEY'RE VERY COLD.
WE KNOW SOME OF THE COLDEST
TEMPERATURES ARE FOUND IN AREAS
OF THE SOUTH AND NORTH POLE THAT
SEES NO DIRECT SUNLIGHT.
THEY GET NO DIRECT SUNLIGHT, AND
IF WE PAUSE HERE WE GET A
GLIMPSE OF THE CRATER AND WE USE
LOLA TO PROBE THE INTERIOR OF
THAT CRATER AND PEER INTO
DARKNESS.
LET'S MOVE ON THE TOUR.
WE GET TO VISIT SOME OF THE
PLACES WE HOPE TO EXPLORE WITH
THE LRO.
WE'LL ZOOM OUT TO THE LARGEST
IMPACT CRATER, THE SOUTH POLE
BASIN.
IF WE STOP HERE FOR A MOMENT,
YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP.
THIS IS THE SPA BASIN, THE
LARGEST IMPACT CRATER, AND WE
PRESUME IT TO BE THE OLDEST.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW OLD IT IS.
AS A GEOLOGIST WE LIKE TO KNOW
THE AGE OF THINGS, AND TO
UNDERSTAND THE AGE OF THIS IS A
HIGH PRIORITY FOR US.
THE LRO WILL HELP US TO KNOW
WHERE WE NEED TO SAMPLE THAT
MATERIAL.
TO EXPLORE UNSEEN PLACES WE GET
TO VISIT PLACES WE'VE SEEN FROM
THE EARTH.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE NEAR-SIDE
CRATERS IS TYKO, A PROMINENT
CRATER ON THE SOUTH NEAR SIDE OF
THE LUNAR SURFACE.
WE'LL SEE IT BRILLIANTLY LIT UP
DURING THE FULL MOON TONIGHT AND
TOMORROW MORNING.
THIS RISES 2.5 KILOMETERS OFF
THE FLOOR OF THE CRATER.
THERE ARE BOULDERS THE SIZE OF
BASEBALL STADIUMS.
THAT CRATER 1,100,000,000 YEARS
OLD, VERY YOUNG FOR THE LUNAR
SURFACE.
GIVEN ALL OF THESE PIECES OF
INFORMATION TOGETHER WE'RE
GETTING A MORE COMPLETE HIGH
RESOLUTION, HIGH DEFINITION
LUNAR SURFACE AND IT'S
ENVIRONMENT.
WE GET TO LOOK AT PLACES WE HAVE
BEEN OR PRAISES WE W PLACES WE
WANT TO GO.
WE GET TO SEE SURFACE CHANGES.
NEW IMPACT CRATERS FORMING AS WE
SPEAK ON THE LUNAR SURFACE.
IT CAUSES LANDSCAPE SUCH AS
THIS.
EVERY OBJECT HAS IMPACT CRATERS
ON IT.
AND IT ALLOWS US TO UNDERSTAND
HOW THE CRATER PROCESS CHANGES
AND MODIFIES PLANETARY SURFACES.
AFTER EIGHT YEARS IT PROVIDES
THE ROAD MAP TO UNDERSTAND AND
UNRAVEL THOSE WONDERFUL
MYSTERIES OF NOT JUST THE MOON,
BUT ALSO BY ASSOCIATION OF THE
EARTH, AND THE REST OF THE SOLAR
SYSTEM.
>> A LOT OF GREAT SCIENCE GOING
ON WITH TH THE ORBITER.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SPACECRAFT
OVER TIME.
>> THIS USES A SOLAR PANEL THAT
RECHARGES THE BATTERY.
IN THE NIGHT CYCLE THE BATTERIES
DRAIN.
THEY'RE NOW PREPARING THE
SPACECRAFT TO GO INTO THIS
ECLIPSE.
BUS WE ORBIT THE MOON, THE
ECLIPSE WE'LL BE IN DARKNESS FOR
AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
WE'LL TURN OFF ALL THE
INSTRUMENTS ON THE SPACECRAFT,
AND AS IT GOES INTO THE EARTH'S
SHADOW IT, TOO, WILL COOL DOWN.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO
MINIMIZE, SO WE PRE-HEAT THE
SPACECRAFT.
AND BY TURNING OFF THE
INSTRUMENTS IT ALLOWS US TO GO
THROUGH THE ECLIPSE, AND ONCE
IT'S OVER WE'LL TURN THE
INSTRUMENTS BACK ON, REBOOT THE
SPACECRAFT AND GET BACK TO
NORMAL OPERATIONS.
WE'LL KEEP THE SPACECRAFT IN
TIP-TOP SHAPE.
>> WILL ANYONE BE DOING ANY
STUDIES DURING THE ECLIPSE OF
THE MOON?
>> NORMALLY WE HAVE THE SEVEN
INSTRUMENTS AND THEY'RE NORMALLY
OPERATING ALMOST ALL OF THE
TIME.
DURING THE ECLIPSE WE TURN
EVERYTHING OFF.
BUT THE SCIENTISTS WANT MORE
SCIENCE AND MORE MEASUREMENTS OF
THE MOON, WE HAVE TWO TEAM
MEMBERS WHO WILL BE OBSERVING
THE MOON DURING THE ECLIPSE
GOING FROM PRE-ECLIPSE WITH THE
DIRECT SUNLIGHT WHAT THEY'LL BE
DOING IS MEASURING THE SURFACE
SUBPOENAS GOING FROM THE OVEN OF
DIRECT SUNLIGHT TO THE DEEP
FREEZE OF BEING IN THE EARTH'S
SHADOW.
HOW THE SURFACE COOLS CAN TELL
US SOMETHING ABOUT THE
PROPERTIES OF THE SURFACE, HOW
COURSE GRAIN, HOW BIG OR SMALL
THE PARTICLES ARE THAT ARE AT
ITS SURFACE.
WE CAN COMBINE THE ECLIPSE
OBSERVATIONS WITH THE NORMAL DAY
NIGHT OBSERVATIONS THAT
INSTRUMENTS MAKE AND COME UP
WITH A ROBUST SURFACE.
WHEN ASTRONAUTS EXPLORED THE
MOON, AND WHEN WE GO BACK WITH
ASTRONAUTS AND ROBOTIC
SPACECRAFT IT'S THAT REGULA THAT
GIVES US KEEN INSIGHT INTO THE
MOON.
AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT FROM THE
PRE-APOLLO ERA.
>> Michelle: WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW
LONGER LARGE THIS WOULD BE.
MANY THOUGHT THEY WOULD STEP OFF
AND SINK A COUPLE OF METERS.
BUT IT'S MEASURES LIKE THIS TO
LOOK AT HOW THE SOIL HEATS UP
AND COOLS DOWN AND SHOWS HOW
DEEP IT IS, AND TURNS OUT IT WAS
A SAFE PLACE TO LAND AFTER ALL.
>> Noah: AFTER 50 YEARS OF
LOOKING AT THE MOON WE'RE MAKING
THE SAME TYPE OF MEASURES, AND
YOU KNOW, REALLY MAKING SOME
FUNDAMENTAL MEASUREMENTS THAT
ENABLE THE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW
THE MOON OPERATES AND THEN WE
APPLY THAT TO EVERY OTHER BODY
IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM, WHETHER
IT'S MERCURY, PLUTO AND THAT ALL
HINGES ON OUR OBSERVATIONS THE
LUNAR SURFACE.
>> Katrina: SO MANY GREAT THINGS
THAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM THE
MOON.
WE'RE LIVE AT GODDARD SPACE
FLIGHT CENTER.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TOMORROW'S
SUPER BLUE BLOOD MOON.
KEEP SENDING IN YOUR QUESTIONS
ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER AND KEEP
TALKING ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE
SKY-WATCHING MEMORIES.
SO LET'S ANSWER A FEW OF THESE
QUESTIONS NOW.
LET'S SEE HERE, SO JOHN ON
FACEBOOK WANTS TO KNOW ARE THEY
GOING TO CAPTURE IMAGES OF THE
EARTH DURING THE LUNAR ECLIPSE?
>> Noah: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION,
JOHN.
DURING THIS ECLIPSE WE WILL NOT
BE TAKING ANY IMAGES.
WE'LL SHUT DOWN ALL OF THE
EQUIPMENT DURING THE ECLIPSE.
THE LRO DOES TAKE PICTURES
DURING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.
WE TOOK A PICTURE OF THE SHADOW
OF THE MOON PASSING ACROSS THE
FACE OF THE EARTH, AND WE DO
TAKE REGULAR PICTURES OF THE
EARTH WITH OUR CAMERA AT EVERY
NEW MOON.
SO WHEN WE HAVE A NEW MOON, IT
MEANS THAT WE DON'T SEE THE MOON
IN THE NIGHT OR DATE TIME SKY.
IF YOU EXPLORE THE WEBSITE AND
YOU CAN GET TO THAT BY GOING
LUNAR.GSC.NASA.GOV .
I WAS IN OREGON DURING THE
ECLIPSE, AND YOU CAN SEE JUST A
FEW PIXELS OF THE CASCADES OUT
WEST THERE.
SO YOU COULD SEE EARTH GEOLOGY
IN THIS PICTURE TAKEN FROM THE
MOON.
AND IN ADDITION TO SEEING THE
SHADOW OF THE MOON, IT LOOKS
PRETTY COOL.
>> I'LL DIRECT THIS QUESTION TO
MICHELLE.
FRANK ON TWITTER WANTS TO KNOW
AREN'T SUPER MOONS JUST HYPE?
>> Michelle: WHEN I WAS A KID I
HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUPER MOONS.
THIS HAS JUST COME INTO THE
PUBLIC CONSCIENCE RECENTLY.
SUPER MOONS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING
EVER SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A
MOON.
AND WHEN A FULL MOON HAPPENS,
THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A SUPER
MOON.
THE TIDES ARE SLIGHTLY HIGHER
DURING THE SUPER MOON, BUT NOT
VERY MUCH.
IT'S A MILD EFFECT.
IT SURPRISES ME THAT PEOPLE HAVE
BECOME INTERESTED IN THIS, BUT
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH
ABOUT THE MOON.
IT'S GOING TO BE BRIGHTER AND
LOOK AT IT TONIGHT.
LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT CYCLES AND
DIFFERENT SHAPES OF THE MONTH,
AND IT GETS A LITTLE BIT LARGER
AND SMALLER AND JUST THE
AWARENESS OF THAT, I'LL TAKE IT.
THERE IS NOTHING ALL THAT
SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE SUPER
MOON.
THERE IS A CHANCE TO GO OUT AND
REALIZE THERE IS SOMETHING
DIFFERENT TONIGHT.
>> Katrina: I THINK WE HAVE TIME
FOR A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.
NOAA, JEFFREY WANTS TO KNOW HOW
MUCH DOES THE TEMPERATURE DROP
ON THE MOON DURING THE ECLIPSE?
>> Noah: THAT'S A VERY GOOD
QUESTION, JEFFREY.
WE KNOW WHAT THE TEMPERATURE
DROPS THAT ARE NORMAL OVER THE
DAY-NIGHT CYCLE.
NOW THE MOON IS ESSENTIALLY
GOING INSTANTANEOUSLY OVER THE
PAN OF A HALF HOUR, INTO THIS
VERY COLD SURFACE.
IT'S COOLING DOWN.
ON THE ORDER OF 100 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT DURING THE ECLIPSE.
THAT'S DURING A QUICK PERIOD OF
TIME.
RECENTLY WE HAD ALL THIS COLD
WEATHER ON THE EAST COAST AND
YOU HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF PEOPLE
TAKING POLICYING WATER, THROWING
IT IN THE AIR AND IT RAPIDLY
FREEZES.
WHILE IT'S NOT THAT RAPID THERE
IS A RESPONSE OF THE MATERIAL
WHETHER IT IT'S BOILING WATER OR
MOON REGULA, IT GOES FROM HOT TO
COLD, AND WE MEASURE THAT
TEMPERATURE DROP ON THE ORDER OF
100 DEGREES DURING THE ECLIPSE.
BY THE TIME IT'S COOLED OFF A
LITTLE BIT THE SUN STARTS TO
COME UP AGAIN.
YOU SAW THE FIGURES.
THE MOON IS IN TOTALITY FOR JUST
OVER AN HOUR.
SO IT'S NOT A LONG TIME FOR THE
MOON TO QUICKLY COOL OFF, AND IT
RETAINS SOME OF THE HEAT AND THE
SUN AS IT'S RADIATING OUT TO
SPACE.
>> Katrina: THANK YOU, NOAA.
THEY'RE ASKING HOW WE CAN SEE
THE ECLIPSE IF IT'S CLOUDY.
THERE IS GOING TO BE A LIVE
BROADCAST STARTING AT 5:30
EASTERN TIME.
AND DENVER IS A COUPLE HOURS
BEHIND, SO 3:30 A.M.
IF YOU WANT TO GET UP, AND IT'S
CLOUDY WRE YOU'RE AT, YOU CAN
WATCH IT ON www.NASA.gov
/LIVE.
LET'S SEE, MORE PEOPLE ARE
ASKING ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE
MOON.
SO MICHELLE, CAN WE GO OVER THAT
AGAIN?
JUST THE TIMING OF WHEN PEOPLE
IN DIFFERENT TIME ZONES WILL BE
ABLE TO SEE THE FULLEST PART OF
THE ECLIPSE?
>> Michelle: THAT'S RIGHT.
IF YOU REMEMBER THE SOLAR
ECLIPSE THERE WAS THE PENUMBRA
AND THE UMBRA.
PENUMBRA IS A SMASH SHADOW OF
THE--A PARTIAL SHADOW OF THE
ECLIPSE.
AND WHEREVER YOU ARE, FOR
EXAMPLE, ON THE EAST COAST WHERE
IT'S THREE HOURS LATER, WE WON'T
BE ABLE TO SEE THIS DARK AND RED
PART OF THE ECLIPSE.
BUT IF YOU'RE ON THE WEST COAST
AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING WHEN THE
SUN HAS NOT COME UP YET, LOOK
TOWARDS THE WEST.
THE MOON WILL BE SETTING IN THE
WEST, AND YOU'LL SEE A REALLY
BIG RED FULL MOON.
>> Noah: YES, I THINK ONE OF THE
COOL THINGS THAT HAPPENS, NOW
THAT WE HAVE THIS BLUE SUPER
MOON ECLIPSE, WE TALK ABOUT HOW
THE MOON GETS BRIGHTER DURING A
SUPER MOON.
IT IS THAT MUCH LARGER IN THE
SKY.
THE SUN IS NOT CHANGING BUT IT
IS JUST THAT MUCH BRIGHTER AND
IT'S HELD UP IN THE SKY.
AREA' GOING TO ONE OF THE
BRIGHTEST MOONS WE'LL GET TO
THIS DIMMING AS IT GOES INTO THE
EARTH SHADOW.
THIS EVENT GIVES YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE FULL
DYNAMIC RANGE OF THE MOON FROM
THE BRIGHTEST TO ITS DIMMIST,
AND THE VISUALIZATION THAT WE
HAVE OF THE MOON MOVING INTO THE
EARTH SHADOW WHAT IS COOL YOU
SEE THAT RED COLOR ONCE IT'S
FULLY ENGULFED IN THE SHADOW.
EVEN IF THERE IS TINY BIT OF
BRIGHT MOON STICKING OUT, YOUR
EYE DOES NOT SEE THE DIMNESS OF
THAT RED COLOR.
IT IS SO-SO DIM RELATIVE TO EVEN
THE SMALL PART OF THE BRIGHT
MOON ILLUMINATED.
YOU ONLY SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL RED
COLOR WHEN IT'S TOTALLY ENGULFED
IN THE EARTH'S SHADOW.
YOU MAY WONDER WHY WE DON'T GET
THESE TOO OFTEN, WELL, IT'S ONLY
THE POINT IN TIME WHEN IT'S
PATHS TAKES IT INTO THAT SLENDER
BUT BEAUTIFUL SHADOW OF THE
EARTH CAST OUT INTO SPACE.
WHEN YOU WATCH THAT RED MOON,
REMEMBER, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE
SUM TOTAL OF ALL OF THE SUNRISES
AND SUNSETS PROJECTED ON TO THE
MOON SURFACE, WHICH IS JUST A
BEAUTIFUL THING.
THIS IS A MAGNIFICENT
VISUALIZATION.
AND SOME DAY FUTURE ASTRONAUTS
MAY ENJOY THIS, LOOKING BACK AT
THE RING OF FIRE, IF YOU WILL,
AROUND THE EARTH.
THAT WONDERFUL EARTH ATMOSPHERE
TURNING THE SUNRISED SUNSET
RED.
>> Michelle: I ALWAYS THOUGHT
THAT THE TERM BLOOD MOON SOUNDED
SCARY OR OMINOUS, BUT IT'S RED
BECAUSE IT'S THE EFFECT OF ALL
THE SUNSETS AND SUNRISES.
I LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS THE
SUNSET MOON AND IT'S ROSY RED.
>> Katrina: THIS IS TIME FOR ONE
QUICK QUESTION.
THIS IS THE LAST ONE.
KIRSTEN WANTS TO KNOW, IF WE ALL
SEE THE SAME SIDE OF THE MOON,
WHAT IS THE OTHER SIDE LIKE?
HAS ANY HUMAN OR SPACECRAFT SEEN
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOON?
>> Noah: THE FAR SIDE OF THE
MOON, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY
LESSON.
FIRST OF ALL, I HOPE EVERYONE
ENJOYS LOOKING AT THE NEAR SIDE
OF THE MOON.
IT'S WONDERFUL.
WE HAVE LAVA FLOWS THAT COVER
THE PORTION AND THE HIGHLANDS
CRUST OF THE MOON.
BUT THERE IS THIS HALF OF THE
MOON THAT WE NEVER GET TO SEE ON
THE EARTH.
FIRST YOUR QUESTION ABOUT
ROBOTICS SPRAYS CRAFT.
THE FIRST SPACECRAFT WAS A
SOVIET SPACECRAFT AND TOOK THE
FIRST IMAGES OF THE FAR SIDE OF
THE MOON AND SHOWED A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT WORLD THAN WHAT WE'RE
USED TO SEEING ON THE NEAR SIDE
OF THE MOON.
IT'S HEAVILY CRATERED, AND THERE
ARE A FEW VOLCANIC PATCHES, AND
VISUALLY IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT WE SEE ON THE NEAR
SIDE OF THE MOON.
THE ONLY HUMANS TO SEE THE FAR
SIDE OF THE MOON ARE THE
ASTRONAUTS WHO ORBITED THE MOON
OR LANDED ON THE MOON AND THEN
THE DATA FROM LRO AND OTHER
SPACECRAFT THAT HAVE ORBITED THE
MOON THAT HAVE MADE MEASUREMENTS
OF THE MOON.
THE MOON IS THE SAME SURFACE
AREA OF THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA.
WE'VE ONLY LANDED ON THE NEAR
SIDE.
THE NEAR SIDE IS FAMILIAR TO US
AND THE FAR SIDE IS THIS WHOLE
OTHER WORLD YET TO BE EXPLORED.
>> A LOT OF MOON LEFT TO BE
EXPLORED.
WE'RE ABOUT OUT OF TIME, BUT
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHELLE AND
NOAH FOR JOINING US.
AND YOU CAN WATCH LIVE TOMORROW
MORNING ON NASA TV STARTING AT
5:30 EASTERN TIME TO VIEW LIVE
STREAM OF THE SUPER BL BLUE BLOD
MOON AT AND UNTIL THEN HAPPY SKY
WATCHING.
ENJOY THE MOON!