Australia's nightscape will be bathed in red on Saturday 4 April when we're treated to the third in a rare series of four lunar eclipses, also known as "blood moons".
The eclipse will begin at around 9.15pm AEDST (8.15pm in Queensland), reaching a full eclipse at around 11pm AEDST.
Dr Stephen Hughes, from QUT's Science and Engineering Faculty, is an astrophysicist and experienced media commentator. He is available for comment and pre-recorded interviews Wednesday 1 April and Thursday 2 April.
Dr Hughes can explain:
•What is a lunar eclipse?
•Is it safe to watch a lunar eclipse?
•What are the best places and ways to view the eclipse?
•Why are we experiencing a rare tetrad of eclipses?
•Why does the moon look red during a lunar eclipse?
•What other celestial events can we expect in 2015?
Background information on Dr Hughes:
•Blood Moon rising
•Heavens above! Four 'blood moons' to eclipse night sky
•Comet comment: QUT expert explains how to land a robot on a moving comet
•Physicist demonstrates dictionary definition was dodgy
•How a plastic pipe could stop an inland tsunami and power a village
Media contact:
Kate Haggman, QUT Media, 07 3130 0358, kate.haggman@qut.edu.au
After hours Rose Trapnell, QUT Media team leader, 0407 585 901.