There have been only five supermoon lunar eclipses since 1900. September’s is the first since 1982, making it the first in the 21st century. (Screenshot: NASA)
The supermoon eclipse is upon us Sunday, and Colorado should have somewhat clear skies for viewing.
This is a totally rare eclipse event. Why, you ask? Well, . There have been only five supermoon lunar eclipses since 1900, the last one being in 1982. This also means that the last time an eclipse like this took place, ‘Knight Rider’ was on TV, a gallon of gas cost $.91, and both ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’ were in theaters. It’s also going to be something called a “blood moon.” More on that below.
In western North America (looking at you, Colorado) the eclipse will be partially underway when the Moon rises at 6:44 p.m. The National Weather Service forecasts “partly cloudy” skies, which optimistic star watchers choose to call “mostly clear.”
Sky-watchers got a glimpse of the Blood Moon in the shortest eclipse of the century as it sets behind Pikes Peak April 4, 2015. This eclipse took place when the Moon was at its perigee, or furthest point from Earth. (Photo: John Leyba, The Denver Post)
The U.S. Naval Observatory’s handy determines when the eclipse will be visible in the night sky, based on location. The full eclipse will be visible from South America, western Europe and central and eastern North America, but most areas of the U.S. should be able to catch some of it.
A supermoon is when the full moon displays in the night sky at its closest orbital point to Earth, or its perigee, which can make it appear up to 14 percent larger in area, about 7 percent larger in diameter and 30 percent brighter than a full moon viewed when its at its apogee, or farthest point from Earth. of why this is also called a “blood moon” eclipse, which sounds totally metal because it is.
This is also the fourth total lunar eclipse in the last two years; previous eclipses occurred on April 14, 2014, Oct. 8, 2014, and April 4, 2015.
