By Bernheim
Source: Insider Louisville
By Sara Havens
Date: January 17, 2019
On Sunday night, as Jan. 20 clicks over to Jan. 21, a trifecta of events will happen to the moon, resulting in what scientists are calling the super blood wolf moon. Think of it as the Super Bowl of supermoons.
First of all, it’s a blood moon, meaning that when it is in total eclipse, it will appear a deep red copper color for about an hour. Second, it’s a supermoon because it’s as close to the Earth as it can be. And finally, exposing its fangs, it’s also a wolf moon, which simply means it’s the first full moon of the year.
So when you put all those together, you get super blood wolf moon, an experience that won’t happen again until 2037.
The folks at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest are hosting a watch party for anyone interested, which will begin at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 20, and end around 1 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 21. Along with coffee, hot chocolate and snacks, volunteer naturalists will be on hand to explain what is happening and what you’re seeing.
Bernheim’s education director, Whitney Wurzel, tells Insider the 16,000-acre sanctuary is the perfect spot to experience this wonder.
“After sunset, a perfect canopy of twinkling darkness spreads over Bernheim,” she says. “A certain magic unfurls, and the forest becomes a place where science, whimsy and mystery mingle, along with the primal thrill of being in the wilderness at night.”
Wurzel agrees that “super blood wolf moon” would make a great band name.
“That would make a great name for either a Swedish death metal or Southern swamp rock band — or maybe a mashup of the two,” she says.
She encourages people to bundle up and make the short trek to Bernheim, which is celebrating 90 years in 2019. And also, unlike the solar eclipse, you can look directly at a lunar eclipse in all its glory.
Look into the eyes of a wolf, and howl at the moon.
“We’re close enough for convenient travel, but just far enough away to escape the glare of city lights,” adds Wurzel.
Tickets to the event are $30 for non-members and $20 for members. Binoculars are recommended. [Editors note: Reservations are required. Call (502) 955-8512 by Saturday, January 19 at 4 p.m.]