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James Michael McDonough

James Michael McDonough

Publisher at Irish Arts & Entertainment magazine for the past 30 years. Writer, poet & avid traveler. Now branching out on Medium.com.

The Blood Moon and Total Lunar Eclipse Tonight

2 min readMar 14, 2025

HOW MANY MOONS, A reflective countdown series

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Tonight is an exciting event: a lunar eclipse and the BLOOD MOON of March. Also called the Blood Worm Moon because of the eclipse.

Around Cincinnati, where I grew up, the local Native Americans called it the Worm Moon simply because as Sping was approaching, there were more earthworms to be seen as the Earth began to thaw.

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It’s fascinating how different cultures have interpreted and named celestial events! The American Tribes strike me as the best, as the names are tied mostly to nature.

I’m learning a lot which is also really good for older people.

The “Blood Moon" refers specifically to the reddish hue the Moon takes on during a total lunar eclipse. This coloration occurs because Earth’s atmosphere filters out most of the Sun’s light, but allows red wavelengths to pass through and refract onto the Moon’s surface.

Just used AI to look this up. I may well have once known this, but honestly, I had forgotten.

MEMENTO MORI

The purpose of my thoughts here is to remind myself that I am quite old and at a time in my life for reflection. I started wondering. How many full moons are left for me to see before “I shuffle off the mortal coil?” This is the third one so far that I have written about.

Time to brew a pot of coffee. I’m planning an all-night moon vigil, so time to wrap this up.

If you read this and get a kick out of it, please let me know.

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James Michael McDonough
James Michael McDonough

Written by James Michael McDonough

Publisher at Irish Arts & Entertainment magazine for the past 30 years. Writer, poet & avid traveler. Now branching out on Medium.com.