Sky-watchers will be in for a rare treat early Wednesday morning. A Super Blue Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse will occur just prior to sunrise.
A Blue Moon is when two full moons happen in the same calendar month; lunar eclipses occur when the moon passes into Earth's shadow; and Supermoons happen when the moon's perigee — its closest approach to Earth in a single orbit — coincides with a full moon.
In this case, they will all be happening together. How rare is this occurrence? The last time all three happened together in the Western Hemisphere was in 1866.
Don't expect to see a blue colored moon though, it really is just another full moon, but this year is a little different because a total lunar eclipse is taking place at the same time!
A lunar eclipse is when the moon passes through the Earth's shadow turning a "orangish" rusty color.
The Earth will begin to cast a shadow on the moon (called the Penumbral) around 4:51 a.m. The partial eclipse will begin around 5:48 a.m. The eclipse will begin totality around 6:51 a.m. with the maximum occurring around 7:30 a.m.
You'll be able to enjoy the eclipse until around 7:47 a.m. when the moon sets on the western horizon. By the time the total lunar eclipse ends, we will no longer be able to view it.
There is very little you have to do in order to see it. Just simply go outside and look at the moon!
Partially cloudy skies are expected, so there is potential for the view to be blocked at times.
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