#AboutLastNight: Photos Of The Super Blue Blood Moon Around the World

Last night, half of the world paused and stared at the sky as the moon went through several phases in a matter of hours. If you’ve been wondering, let’s break this super badass moon in three parts: why it’s super, why it’s blue, and why it’s bloody.

 

Supermoon

In a rare moment, the sun, earth, and moon lined up perfectly—in that order—and the moon reached the closest distance it can get to the earth, making it appear gigantic. While it was not as “super” in the Philippines, some other places in the world were able to get a look at the moon that was 14 to 30 percent larger and brighter than usual.

 

Blue moon

No, the moon did not turn blue, if that’s what you expected to see. The second full moon within the same month is usually dubbed as a blue moon (it’s a very rare instance, hence the idiomatic expression, “once in a blue moon”) and in other parts of the world, like in the Philippines, last night’s full moon clocked in right before January ended.

 

Blood moon

When the lunar eclipse started (around 8:51 p.m.), the earth blocked the light from the sun, which usually illuminates the moon. Because of this, the moon took a reddish brown color, giving it the name “blood moon.”

Last night was particularly special because it was first time in over 150 years that this particular combination engulfed the moon. If you missed the beautiful moon last night, or would like relive it again, here are the photos taken by people around the world to commemorate the “once in a blue moon” event. Yes, pun intended.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm always amazed by how perfectly round natural shapes can be.

A post shared by Erwan Heussaff (@erwan) on Jan 31, 2018 at 3:55am PST

 

 

 

Tonight’s #superbluebloodmoon rising over the Scarp (Perth Hills in the background) captured standing on top of a sand dune in the middle of a prickle bush at Port Kennedy Beach.. the light post was in the perfect spot for some unplanned creativity ???? #whoputthatstreetlightthere ?? . . . #moonrise #supermoon #timing #moon #westernaustralia #icwest #perth #life_in_wa #seeperth #soperth #perthnow #mynikonlife #australia #luna #lunareclipse #justanotherdayinwa #nikon #photographerscreatives #earth #earthpix #pinksky #dusk #australian_pastels #abcmyphoto #ig_colour #seeaustralia #discoverearth

A post shared by Kylie McKay (@kyliessv) on Jan 31, 2018 at 7:53am PST

 

 

 

 

A post shared by ?????????????? ?????????????????? ????. (@_vj.m) on Jan 31, 2018 at 8:08am PST

 

Tonight is a magic night #SuperBlueBloodMoon pic.twitter.com/UIpOoaR6en

— Rosenfieldart (@rosenfieldart) January 31, 2018 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Fly Me to the Moon (@flymetothemoonstudio) on Jan 31, 2018 at 8:08am PST

 

 

 

A post shared by OutSmart Magazine (@outsmartmagazine) on Jan 31, 2018 at 8:08am PST

 

 

 

A post shared by Brent Hall (@lightbendersvisuals) on Jan 31, 2018 at 8:07am PST