India, Sept. 6 -- By Dr. S.N. Prasad

The term 'blood' or 'bloody' as applied to a fully eclipsed Moon, invoking images of horror and fright, is shunned by most astronomers, both professional and amateur. It is a description that our nearest terrestrial neighbour doesn't befit any time.

Only poets, soothsayers, storytellers and occultists are fond of it. The technically correct term is 'copper-red' or 'coppery red', and it is generally a dull red or orangish red.

However, someone with dichromatic vision like me (belonging to eight percent of the male population) is not the type to offer any definitive judgement. Plain red will do for me. No blood need to be shedon this count.

Solar and lunar eclipses as seen from the Earth would not ha...