The cosmic trifecta of a supermoon, a blue moon, and a total lunar eclipse hasn’t been seen anywhere on Earth since December 1982.
Lucky sky-watchers just got a cosmic three-for-one deal, as the second super-size full moon in a month underwent a dramatic total lunar eclipseon January 31. According to eclipse experts, the event marks the first time anyone on Earth has seen this celestial trifecta in 35 years—and the first time it’s been seen in the Americas in 150 years. (See pictures of the rare 2018 lunar eclipse.)
On the 31st, the moon officially reached its full phase at 8:27 a.m. ET (13:27 UT). This is the second full moon to occur in a calendar month, an event commonly referred to as a blue moon. Around the same time, the full moon made an especially close approach to Earth, a phenomenon popularly called a supermoon.
Adding to the space oddity, viewers in some parts of the world also saw a total lunar eclipse on the 31st. When a lunar eclipse hits its peak, the moon’s face can sometimes take on a reddish tone, earning it the moniker of blood moon.