January 2018 is continuing to be the mooniest month we’ve seen in some time. Not only will we be treated to a blue moon, aka an additional full moon, on the 31st, but that day will also see a lunar eclipse. This phenomenon is sometimes known as a “blood moon,” for the reddish tint the moon takes on while it’s in Earth’s shadow.
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, the supermoon also happens to be the day of the lunar eclipse, for the first time in more than 150 years .
East Coasters will only get to see a partial eclipse before the moon goes down for the day. Enjoy!
