If you were an early riser on January 31, you were visually rewarded for waking up in the dark. The rare super blue blood moon was visible to over half the globe, especially for those who reside on the West Coast of the U.S., Australia, Northern Russia, Eastern Asia, and the Middle East. It marked something that has never been witnessed by any person living today; the last time this celestial event occurred was 150 years ago.
So, what is a super blue blood moon, anyway? It’s the culmination of a few astronomical phenomena. One is a supermoon, which is when the moon is at its closest point to Earth and appears 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the average full moon. Another event is a blue moon, also known as the second full moon of the month, and the third is a blood moon—aka a total lunar eclipse. Together, this produced a moon that was a bright red orb floating in a dark, limitless void.
For those that couldn’t drag themselves out of bed—or weren’t in the optimal viewing areas—you won’t have to wait 150 years to see it again. The next super blue blood moon will be on Jan. 31, 2037. In the meantime, check out a selection of awe-inspiring astrophotography from people around the world who have documented the visual event.
On January 31, a rare super blue blood moon was visible to over half the globe.
Thanks for joining us for the #SuperBlueBloodMoon! The next appearance of this trio in the U.S. — a total lunar eclipse, a “supermoon” and a “blue moon” — will be Jan. 31, 2037. Mark your calendars and join us again! Discover more about the Moon: https://t.co/Lcao0f89pJ pic.twitter.com/dB1hQE37Iw
— NASA (@NASA) January 31, 2018
The event is a culmination of a supermoon, blue moon, and lunar eclipse.
Don’t panic: the moon isn’t getting closer! We just thought this morning’s #SuperBlueBloodMoon was a good chance to have a little fun with a double-exposure. pic.twitter.com/gtHcMhKRWV
— YellowstoneNPS (@YellowstoneNPS) January 31, 2018
If you missed it, the super blue blood moon will be back on Jan. 31, 2037. In the meantime, check out this gorgeous astrophotography.
Here’s what the #SuperBlueBloodMoon looked like around the world last night. 📷 🌔 https://t.co/204X0f0Auc pic.twitter.com/j1ZtOLrWUM
— BBC (@BBC) February 1, 2018