What is a Blue Moon and a Super Blue Blood Moon?

A Blue Moon and lunar eclipse combined with the moon being at its closest point to Earth (a Supermoon), which resulted in a Super Blue Blood Moon. The January 31 full moon was the second in the month meaning it is termed a Blue Moon.

When was the last Blue Blood Moon in Europe?

The rare event was last seen in Europe in 1982, while US audiences had not witnessed it for a remarkable 152 years. A Super Blue Blood Moon happens when a Blue Moon occurs at the same time as both a Supermoon and a Blood Moon. The rare event means the next Super Blue Blood Moon is not expected until January 31, 2037.

What is a blood moon and how does it happen?

The term Blood Moon isn’t a scientific term but one coined colloquially. It refers to a total lunar eclipse because, when the moon is completely eclipsed it takes on a reddish colour. During this eclipse direct sunlight is completely blocked by the earth’s shadow.

What is the Blue Moon and how rare is it?

The Blue Moon is known to be very full and seeing it is a rare occasion. It led to people coining the phrase “once in a blue moon”, meaning something that doesn’t happen very often.

What is a supermoon and when does it occur?

A supermoon occurs when the moon’s perigee — the point in its orbit that it is nearest to the earth — coincides with a full moon. The moon orbits our planet on an elliptical path, so there’s a point in its journey that it gets especially up close and personal with the earth.

What is a Blue Moon and how often do they happen?

A blue moon is just a name for when two full moon occur within the same calendar month. So there should be, on average, one full moon a month. However, once every 2.7 years there’s a month with an extra fully lit luna. This is where the saying, “once in a blue moon,” comes from as blue moons don’t happen all that often.