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Mark Your Calendars! A (Not Fake) Super Blood Wolf Moon Is Happening This Month

08/01/2019 - 10:55 PM

INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA - SEPTEMBER 28: A perigee full moon, or super moon, is seen during a total lunar eclipse on September 28, 2015 in Innsbruck, Austria. The combination of a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse last occurred in 1982 and will not happen again until 2033. (Photo by Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images)

A super blood wolf moon eclipse is occurring later this month [1], and no, you did not accidentally stumble upon some Twilight [2] fan fiction. The rare lunar trifecta will be visible in the Americas, Iceland, Greenland, Western Europe, and West Africa on Jan. 20 and Jan. 21, depending on the time zone.

So, what the heck is it exactly? A wolf moon is the term used for the first full moon of the year, so, that's that on the "wolf" part. A super moon, meanwhile, occurs when the moon is as its closest distance to Earth during its orbit, making it seem unusually large. To top it all off, the moon will also experience a total lunar eclipse, which will give it a reddish hue — hence why it's called a blood moon. In fact, the super blood wolf moon — deep breath — will be the only total lunar eclipse of 2019.

While the entire eclipse will last several hours, the total coverage of the moon will take place at 11:41 p.m. ET, lasting for just over an hour. Unfortunately, only a partial eclipse will be visible in Eastern Europe and East Africa, and most of Asia will not be able to experience the lunar event.


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.co.uk/news/What-Super-Blood-Wolf-Moon-2019-45658751