The blood moon – a rare natural spectacle
The blood moon is a rare natural spectacle that has always fascinated people. But what is behind this phenomenon and why does the moon appear in a deep red color? In this article, we explain the background* and show how this impressive event was immortalized in a large clock – in the limited-edition Opus PM 70 III.
The lunar eclipse
A lunar eclipse is an astronomical phenomenon in which the moon appears darker than normal or is even completely obscured. Sometimes the moon takes on a red color, creating what is known as a blood moon.
The classic lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, earth, and moon are in alignment. The moon is covered by the earth, it is in the earth’s umbra, and no sunlight reaches it. For this event to occur, the three celestial bodies must be exactly in line and the moon must be full.
During a total lunar eclipse, the highest stage of a lunar eclipse, the moon is completely immersed in the earth’s umbra. Only during a total lunar eclipse does a blood moon occur. Even though the moon is covered by the earth, it shines 10,000 times darker than normal due to scattered light from the earth’s atmosphere. Long-wave red light falls into the earth’s shadow, illuminating the moon in a soft “evening red”. The color of the red moon is different for each blood moon because it depends on the amount of dust and ash particles in the earth’s atmosphere.
But why don’t we see a red moon in the sky every month at full moon, when the moon passes behind the earth as seen from the sun?
This is because the moon does not always pass through the earth’s umbra on its orbit around the earth, but often passes above or below the earth. When it does, it is fully illuminated by the sun, creating the classic full moon. The phenomenon of the sun, earth, and moon being exactly on the same axis is therefore rare.
The blood moon, a rare natural phenomenon, has fascinated people since time immemorial. Some admire the lunar eclipse as an impressive spectacle, while others interpret it as a sign of the apocalypse. In the past, solar and lunar eclipses were never considered good omens. As the sun darkened, the surroundings became gloomy and it grew cooler. People considered it not only an astronomical phenomenon but also a sign from the heavens. For the Incas, a lunar eclipse was an attack on the moon by a jaguar, and they tried to scare the animal away with noise. In ancient Mesopotamia, the natural phenomenon was also interpreted as an attack on the moon by demons. Celestial events were often associated with events on Earth and were considered attacks on the king, who represented the country. A “replacement king” was appointed to protect the actual king. On the other hand, a tribe from what is now northern California interpreted the lunar eclipse as “healing the moon.” They believed the moon owned women, mountain lions, and snakes. When the moon failed to provide them with food, they inflicted bloody wounds upon it. The lunar eclipse ended as soon as the moon’s women intervened to protect it. In southern California, the moon was healed during an eclipse through songs and prayers. Chinese observers interpreted the blood moon as a spectacle in which a heavenly dragon devoured the moon. However, Adalbert Stifter described these events as “delightful” and said he felt no fear.
Even today, doomsday prophets spread all kinds of theories about events caused by the blood moon. The moon’s unusual red color is often interpreted as a “divine sign” that God “wants to signal an apparition.” In some cultures, lunar eclipses and blood moons are seen as battles between the sun and the moon that bring people together to settle “old feuds and resentments.“
Despite the myths and legends surrounding it, this celestial event is now primarily regarded as a fascinating natural spectacle. People sometimes travel long distances to witness and photograph it. The years 2014 and 2015 were marked by an astronomical phenomenon in which a “tetrad,” or a series of four blood moons, was visible. Doomsday enthusiasts announced the end of the world on social media, but the event did not occur, nor did it have any dire consequences.
Here are some more interesting facts about the blood moon:
The fascination of the blood moon lies in its rarity and its unique play of colors. With our new product 2025, the Opus PM 70 III with blood moon, we have incorporated this natural phenomenon into a pull-wire regulator from Erwin Sattler that captures the mystical character of the red moon and sets a special accent in any room.
The moon phase of the Opus PM 70 III is a special highlight that combines the highest art of watchmaking with individual craftsmanship.
At the Erwin Sattler manufactory, each moon disk is carefully hand-painted by selected watchmakers. The result is not only an exceptionally detailed image of the moon, but also a truly unique piece – each moon phase is unique and makes the watch something very special.
While the Opus PM 70 III displays the classic moon phases, its design was inspired by the fascinating play of colors of the blood moon. For the first time, Erwin Sattler is displaying a red moon on a wall clock – a tribute to this rare natural spectacle. To underline its exclusivity, the Opus PM 70 III with blood moon is limited to just 99 pieces, making it a desirable collector’s item for connoisseurs of the finest clockmaking art.
*The explanations of the blood moon in this magazine article are based on publicly available information from NASA, Augsburger Allgemeine, Welt, National Geographic and European Space Agency. Since this is not a scientific report, the article is for general information purposes only and is intended to explain the background of this fascinating phenomenon in connection with the Opus PM 70 III.
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