A Full Moon, Super Moon, Blood Moon and Total Eclipse of the Moon—this one has it all.
On the evening of September 27, 2015, three separate lunar events converged. The total eclipse coincides with the full moon nearest the fall equinox, known as the harvest moon. What's more, the moon is at its closest approach to Earth for the year, making it also a Super Moon or perigee moon. That’s why it's being coined by some as a Super Harvest Blood Moon—a mouthful to be sure.
This confluence has happened only five times since 1900. According to NASA, the last time we saw this celestial triple combination was in 1982, and it won’t repeat until 2033.
The most spectacular part of the eclipse is the totality phase, when Earth's shadow completely covers the moon and turns it an eerie red. The moon will dip into the deepest and darkest part of Earth’s shadow, or umbra, during the totality phase, which lasts as long as 72 minutes.
This weekend's blood moon was the last in a series of four lunar eclipses, dubbed a tetrad, over the last two years. That pattern won’t repeat for another 20 years or so..
Partial Eclipse Begins
Total Eclipse Begins
Midpoint of Eclipse