The “Blood Moon”

On April 15, 2014 the peoples around the world saw first total lunar eclipse. Which in resulting “blood Moon” was a quite thriller? Actually during the eclipse the moon's hue ranges from bright orange to blood red, and many thanks to sunlight that seeps through the Earth's atmosphere onto the moon's face. So the first of four “blood moon” eclipses lived up to expectations, proving an eerie sight across North and South America when the moon was illuminated a deep red. The four-stage wonderful event, recognized as a “Tetrad”, is also believed to mark the beginning of significant events and even the “end of the world” in some religions.

It is projected the next Tetrad cycle won't happen until 2032. The breathtaking sight occurs when the Earth's shadow passes over the moon and it will happen three more times over the next two years as part of this cycle. However; lunar eclipses occur multiple times in a year during a full moon, this eclipse is an exclusive lucky viewing opportunity for North America. The whole continent won't be able to witness a full lunar eclipse in its entirety again until 2019.

A lunar eclipse happens when the moon passes in the shadow of Earth. This is an area recognized as the umbra, where light from the sun is blocked by our planet. The light diverts inversely in the atmosphere and, as it hits the moon, it appears red. This gives upsurge to its “blood red” appearance during a whole eclipse, when the entire moon is in shadow. If it skirts the shadow, famous as a partial or penumbral eclipse, the effect is less dramatic.

This gives the misconception that the moon is changing phases in a matter of minutes instead of weeks. When the eclipse's is on peak, the moon enters the Earth's full shadow; the umbra. Now at this stage the Earth's atmosphere scatters the sun's red visible light; the similar process that turns the sky red at sunset. As a result, the red light reflects off the moon's surface, casting a reddish rust hue over it. It's not frequently to see our planet's shadow, but a lunar eclipse gives us a fleeting glimpse. During these rare events, the full moon rapidly darkens and then glows red.

At the eclipse's peak the moon entered the Earth's full shadow, the umbra. At this stage, the Earth's atmosphere scattered the sun's red visible light - the same process that turns the sky red at sunset. As a result, the red light reflected off the moon's surface, casting a reddish rust hue over it. 'It's a projection of all the Earth's sunsets and sunrises onto the moon,' it’s a very subtle effect, and if any part of the moon is illuminated in the sun, you can't really see it.

It’s not happen all the time, because the sky has to be clear and really gives you a best chance to look at the phases of moon changing. Otherwise you can miss the chance if clouds over it. However, some have faith in the eclipse has larger consequence. But this is not something that certain religious think tank has put together.

Moreover NASA has confirmed “Tetrad” has only happened 3 times in more than 500 years and that it's going to happen now. NASA has also confirmed the Tetrad started on Tuesday night and will end on September 28, 2015. The history tells us in 1493, the first Tetrad saw the expulsion and the 2nd happened in 1949, right after the State of Israel was created and the most recent one in 1967 happened during the Six-Day War between Arabs and Israelis. The final one happens on September 28, 2015, which is also during the Feast of the Tabernacles.

Source: Huffingtonpost  and Dailymail

China Opens World’s Largest Aquarium Sets Five Records

A new aquatic theme park in China's new £484m tourist attraction sets 5 world records and boasting a tank which holds 22.7 million liters of water. This awesome attraction is designed by PGAV Destinations, who made Hong Kong’s Grand Aquarium and the Terracotta Warriors Museum in Xi’an, Ocean Kingdom promises to be the first Asian theme park merging animal exhibits, themed entertainment shows and thrill rides.

This is being recognized as the largest aquarium on earth, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom has also established a world’s record of having the biggest underwater viewing dome, aquarium tank, aquarium window and acrylic panel. The mass tourist attraction which is opened for public now actually a part of Chimelong Hengqin Bay Hotel, the largest ocean ecological-themed hotel in China. The lovely 1000-metre Grand Canal unites the hotel to the Ocean Kingdom, and visitors can take water taxis which run in between. It took three years to build, is on Hengqin Island, near Macao, and features 7 beautiful theme areas, each representing a part of the ocean, as well as rides, hotels, a 5D cinema and a circus.

This is the world largest covering 132 hectares, and houses 10 whale sharks, as well as tropical spotted dolphins and Chinese white dolphins. It’s a mega project and more than £1.98bn has been invested into the park and hotel, owned by the Chime-Long Group, which runs China's biggest theme park, Chime-Long Paradise, in Guangzhou. The result is an unbelievable attraction experience and Guinness World Records is delighted to recognize the five specific world-beating achievements that make it so special.  And breaking any world record is always so special, but to become the world’s largest aquarium needs phenomenal creative vision and massive engineering efforts; said by Rowan Simons, President of Guinness World Records Greater China.

It is situated in the Ocean Wonders area of the park; and the Whale Shark Exhibit tank earned four of the new records including the world’s largest acrylic panel which is measures more than 129ftx27ft, and largest aquarium window. Another prominent feature is the world’s largest underwater tank viewing dome, in fact has an external diameter of 39ft, where tourists can stroll watching the sea life swimming above them. The tank itself has a volume of 22.7 million liters of salt water, making it the world’s largest aquarium tank. In January a soft opening was arranged in which park saw more than 500,000 visitors during the Chinese New Year. Indeed this is a great engineering effort which makes it so special and set new standards for developed countries.

Spectacular Images of Lava Crashes into the Sea off Hawaii

Two fearless photographers Nick Selway, 28, and pal CJ Kale, 35 have risked their lives to become the first people to capture the explosive moment blistering lava crashes into the sea while in the water themselves. They’ve just use a simple protective casing around their cameras, and wearing just swimming shorts and flippers. The valiant duo brave baking hot 110F (43,3C) waters to take the astonishing pictures standing just feet away from scalding heat and floating lava bombs. Hawaii is a collection of volcanic islands situated over a geological 'hot spot' in the Central Pacific. 

The daredevils said; we’ve shoot photographs all over the world but our volcano pictures are so spectacular. We’ve spent so many days on the edge of volcanoes, either leaving at midnight to get out before the light of the rising sun or even hiking in the day and then staying overnight. We’ve used surf-housing which is a protective case so we can venture into the water with big hearts, as the heat and water would be too much for them. You just imagine it’s an 110F where we were and just 20ft in front of us and water was extremely boiling. We have a lot of entertaining stuff but it's really unsafe and I wouldn't suggest anyone to trying it for themselves.  Even I fell into a lava-tube which has shattered my ankle. After climbing out we had to lash my foot to my leg with a tripod, camera strap and belt and hike over the rugged terrain for two miles. Not several people die each year but when they do it's usually in large groups when large chunks of land drop into the sea.

There are 8 main islands and 6 of these are open to tourism. Therefore; Hawaii (Big Island) is the largest of the islands and home to Mauna Kea and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park which includes two of the largest and most active volcanoes on Earth Mauna Loa and Kilauea. There are currently three active volcanoes in Hawaii. Moreover; Maunaloa was last erupted in 1984, whereas Kilauea has been erupting continuously since 1983. Loihi is situated underwater off the southern coast of Hawaii's Big Island and has been exploding since 1996. It could break through the surface in about 250,000 years, adding a ninth distinct island to the Hawaiian chain.

(Photo by Nick Selway/CJ Kale/Caters News Agency) Source: Dailymail

Traditional Horse Fighting of China

Probably you’ve heard fighting of several animals, but this story is something unique and unusual. There are a number of pictures in which you see two stallions fight during a traditional Chinese New Year horse fighting competition for the Year of the Horse in Tiantou Miao village in Rongshui, China. It’s a traditional festival which is carried out a grisly 500-year-old tradition. The two stallions fight by the presence of female horse to ring the Chinese New Year, who is kept meters away from the clashing pairs by a villager armed with little more than a stick and when it’s the Year of the Horse, the fights are considered to be even more substantial. The horse which successfully defends its position close to the female is declared the winner.

Animals Asia has said the female horses are sometimes "induced into season through the injection of hormones. They’re nourishes the horses in a small village across southern China and have been condemned by animal rights groups; including Hong-Kong based Animals Asia. But those who participate in the events defend the fights and insist they take care of the animals. Members of the Miao ethnic group encourage the animals fight and betting on the winner. The tournaments can earn the winner 10,000 yuan (around $1,650) and are happening more frequently now, as the Year of the Horse begins. The inhabitants of this area argue that horse-fighting is steeped in tradition and without horse fighting it wouldn't feel like a new year and also referring to horse’s bloody bites, We have adequate medicine to treat his injuries, and after some times he will gradually get better. As most of people know horses are not naturally aggressive and wouldn’t normally engage in their behavior like this. Moreover; Horse-fighting has been outlawed in many countries but not here in China. The animal activists from the non-profit organization Animals Asia called the tradition a “horrific spectacle" and says that local government officials now actively boost this cruel event in order to entice tourists to this area.