1400: "The Blood Moon"
Interesting Things with JC #1400: "The Blood Moon" – One night it’s just the Moon, next thing you know, it’s red as fire. Folks used to say it meant danger, even the end of days. Truth is, it still gives you chills.
Curriculum - Episode Anchor
Episode Title: The Blood Moon
Episode Number: #1400
Host: JC
Audience: Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners
Subject Area: Astronomy, Mythology, Cultural Studies, Earth & Space Science
Lesson Overview
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Define what a total lunar eclipse is and explain the term “blood moon.”
Compare cultural interpretations of the blood moon from Babylonian, Norse, Biblical, and Amish traditions.
Analyze how Earth’s atmosphere affects the color of the moon during a total lunar eclipse.
Explain why blood moons have historically stirred mythological and emotional responses across societies.
Key Vocabulary
Lunar Eclipse (ˈluː.nər ɪˈklɪps) — A phenomenon that occurs when the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon.
Atmosphere (ˈæt.mə.sfɪr) — The layer of gases surrounding Earth, which bends and scatters sunlight during an eclipse.
Scattering (ˈskætərɪŋ) — The process by which particles in the atmosphere deflect light, causing red hues to dominate during a blood moon.
Mythology (mɪˈθɑː.lə.dʒi) — Traditional stories and beliefs, especially those explaining natural phenomena, like a red moon being chased by a Norse wolf.
Symbolism (ˈsɪm.bə.lɪ.zəm) — The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, such as the blood moon symbolizing divine warnings or omens.
Narrative Core (Based on the PSF – Renamed Labels)
Open: The episode begins with a vivid image: the Moon glowing deep red like a coal in the sky—immediately engaging listeners with visual intensity.
Info: JC explains the science of a total lunar eclipse—how Earth blocks the Sun, and atmospheric light bending causes the red glow.
Details: Variations in color are tied to environmental conditions (wildfires, volcanic dust), and historical beliefs from Babylonian, Norse, Biblical, and Amish perspectives.
Reflection: Despite modern science, the rare and beautiful blood moon still sparks wonder, emotion, and reverence—bridging ancient and current understandings.
Closing: "These are interesting things, with JC."
A deep red full moon, known as a blood moon, dominates the night sky above a dark forested horizon. The moon glows with a fiery, copper hue, set against a star-dotted black sky. Below, a few scattered lights from a distant town flicker near the tree line. Bold red text at the top reads “THE BLOOD MOON,” with smaller text underneath that says “Interesting Things with JC #1400.”
Transcript
Every once in a while, the Moon doesn’t look like the Moon at all. It turns a deep red, almost like a hot coal hanging in the sky. That’s what folks call a blood moon. It happens during a total lunar eclipse, when Earth slides right between the Sun and the Moon. Instead of sunlight hitting the Moon straight on, it bends through Earth’s atmosphere. The air scatters the blue and green light, but the reds and oranges make it through, washing the Moon in that copper glow. If the air’s dusty from a big wildfire or a volcano, the Moon goes darker, almost brick red. On a clear night, it shines brighter, more like rusty orange.
People didn’t always know the science. To the Babylonians, it was a warning their king was in danger. In Norse legend, a wolf named Sköll was thought to chase the Moon, and when he caught it, the Moon turned red. The Bible says the Moon will turn to blood as a sign of the end times. Stories like these stuck because a blood moon is rare and unforgettable.
The Amish, being close to the land and tied to Scripture, paid attention to it too. They didn’t gather outside with telescopes—they took it as a sign from God’s hand. An 1866 Amish almanac out of Pennsylvania even warned that “the moon darkened with red shall cause men’s hearts to fear.” Some Amish farmers believed it might even mark a shift in weather or harvest conditions. For them, it wasn’t just astronomy—it was God’s clock in the heavens.
Now, we can measure the distance—about 238,855 miles, or 384,400 kilometers—from here to the Moon. We know why it glows red, how the atmosphere bends the light. But even with all that science laid out, when you look up and see it for yourself, you understand why it stirred so many legends. A blood moon feels bigger than facts alone.
These are interesting things, with JC.
Student Worksheet
What causes the Moon to appear red during a total lunar eclipse?
How do environmental factors like wildfires or volcanoes affect the color of the blood moon?
Compare how the Babylonians and the Amish interpreted the blood moon.
Why does the narrator suggest that the blood moon "feels bigger than facts alone"?
Write a short journal entry describing what you might feel or think if you saw a blood moon for the first time.
Teacher Guide
Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes
Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy:
Use a Frayer Model for the terms “lunar eclipse” and “scattering.”
Show labeled diagrams and a brief NASA animation to visualize the eclipse process.
Anticipated Misconceptions:
Students may confuse a lunar eclipse with a solar eclipse.
Some may think the Moon produces its own light.
Discussion Prompts:
Why do you think so many ancient cultures viewed the blood moon as a warning?
Do you believe natural events still influence how people interpret meaning in the world?
Differentiation Strategies:
ESL: Use bilingual science glossaries and visual vocabulary cards.
IEP: Provide guided notes with sentence starters and graphic organizers.
Gifted: Assign a mini-research project comparing astronomical events in multiple world mythologies.
Extension Activities:
Create an artistic rendering or infographic of the blood moon with scientific and cultural facts.
Write a fictional myth based on a lunar eclipse from the perspective of a modern community.
Cross-Curricular Connections:
Physics: Light refraction and atmospheric optics.
World History: Ancient civilizations and cosmological beliefs.
Literature: Symbolism and celestial metaphors in sacred texts.
Quiz
Q1. What natural event causes a blood moon?
A. A solar flare
B. A total lunar eclipse
C. A meteor shower
D. A comet passing by
Answer: B
Q2. Why does the Moon turn red during a total lunar eclipse?
A. The Moon heats up due to solar radiation
B. Mars reflects its light onto the Moon
C. Earth’s atmosphere bends red light around the Earth
D. A red planet passes in front of the Moon
Answer: C
Q3. According to Norse mythology, what caused the Moon to turn red?
A. A volcano eruption
B. A wolf named Sköll caught it
C. An eclipse predicted in the runes
D. Thor cast a spell on the Moon
Answer: B
Q4. What color is the Moon likely to be if the atmosphere is full of dust or smoke?
A. Bright yellow
B. Pale white
C. Brick red
D. Blue
Answer: C
Q5. How did the Amish interpret the blood moon in their 1866 almanac?
A. As a time for celebration
B. As a signal of good weather
C. As a divine warning
D. As irrelevant to farming
Answer: C
Assessment
Explain, in your own words, why the blood moon appears red and how cultural beliefs have shaped its interpretation across time.
Compare the scientific explanation of the blood moon with one cultural or religious interpretation discussed in the episode.
3–2–1 Rubric
3 = Accurate, complete, thoughtful
2 = Partial or missing detail
1 = Inaccurate or vague
Standards Alignment
U.S. National Standards
NGSS HS-ESS1-1: Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the life span of the Sun and the role of nuclear fusion. (Aligned to understanding celestial events like eclipses.)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.2: Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text.
C3.D2.H2.9-12: Analyze change and continuity in historical eras. (Mythology and religious symbolism across time.)
ISTE 3a: Students plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and evaluate its accuracy.
CTE-STEM.A.3.2: Describe how science and technology are used to solve practical problems in astronomy and meteorology.
International Equivalents
UK KS4 Physics (AQA 4.8.1): Understand the nature of light and electromagnetic waves and apply it to real phenomena like eclipses.
IB MYP Sciences Criterion D: Reflecting on the impacts of science and its applications (cultural and ethical).
Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 (2.4): Understanding light behavior in reflection and refraction.
Show Notes
In episode #1400 of Interesting Things with JC, titled “The Blood Moon,” listeners explore one of astronomy’s most captivating phenomena—a total lunar eclipse that transforms the Moon into a haunting red globe. JC seamlessly weaves science with cultural mythology, from Babylonian omens to Norse legends, the Bible, and 19th-century Amish beliefs. The episode serves as a valuable classroom resource, linking physical science with global perspectives on symbolism and cosmic storytelling. Perfect for educators seeking cross-disciplinary engagement in astronomy, culture, and reflective thinking.
References
Kraybill, D. B. (2003). The Amish and the state (2nd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. Retrieved September 6, 2025, from https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/2476/amish-and-state
NASA. (2025, January 31). What you need to know about the March 2025 total lunar eclipse. NASA Science. Retrieved September 6, 2025, from https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/moon/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-march-2025-total-lunar-eclipse
Byrd, D. (2025, September 5). A total lunar eclipse looks red. Why? EarthSky. Retrieved September 6, 2025, from https://earthsky.org/space/why-does-the-moon-look-red-during-a-total-lunar-eclipse
