(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The moon sets over downtown Los Angeles as the eclipse concludes. The next blue moon, "supermoon" and total lunar eclipse will coincide in 2037.

(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)

The moon passes into Earth's shadow during the lunar eclipse over downtown Los Angeles as seen from the 4th Street Bridge.

(Sandy Huffaker / AFP/Getty Images)

A view of the eclipse near the "Unconditional Surrender" statue in San Diego.

(Sandy Huffaker / AFP/Getty Images)

A view of the eclipse over the Midway in San Diego.

(Eugene Garcia / EPA/Shutterstock)

The lunar eclipse over Angel Stadium in Anaheim.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The moon sets over downtown Los Angeles.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A surfer wades into the water as another rides a wave with a view of the lunar eclipse over Tower Zero in Huntington Beach.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The moon sets over downtown Los Angeles as the eclipse concludes. The next blue moon, "supermoon" and total lunar eclipse will coincide in 2037.</s>New Year brought the spectacle of fireworks lighting up the night sky - but there’s something extra for us at the start of 2018.

We have already had a supermoon right at the beginning of 2018 - and will get another at the end of the month, a very rare occurrence.

While it seems we hear a lot about supermoons these days, they are not that common - and it’s even less common for two to happen in a single month.

The two January lunar displays will be the only supermoons in the whole year, so they are worth looking out for.

Here's all you need to know.

When are the January supermoons?

The first supermoon was the full moon on the evening of January 1 into the early hours of January 2.

Native American tribes called January's full moon the Wolf Moon as it was the time when packs of wolves could be heard howling with hunger.

It's also known as the Moon After Yule because it's the first full moon following Christmas.

The second Wolf Moon supermoon is on January 31. It will also be a Blue Moon.

A blue moon is the name given to a second full moon within one calendar month.

This only occurs every three years.

It has given rise to the phrase 'once in a blue moon', referring to something that doesn't happen very often.

On other occasions, the moon can actually appear blue in colour because of the way light bounces off large dust particles thrown into the atmosphere by a volcanic eruption.

Is it also an eclipse?

There will also be a total lunar eclipse on January 31, 2018.

This eclipse will be visible in much of the USA, northeastern Europe, Russia, Asia and Australia.

Unfortunately we won't be able to see it in the UK.

During the time of total eclipse, there will be a Blood Moon as the moon's surface turns a deep red.

So what exactly is a supermoon?

The moon's orbit around the Earth is elliptical rather than circular, so it comes closer to us at some points and is noticeably farther away at other times.

In 1979, astrologer Richard Nolle coined the term supermoon to describe a new or full moon whose orbit is at (or within 90 per cent of) its closest point to Earth (the perigee).

A supermoon new moon is not visible, but a supermoon full moon is big and bright, appearing 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than a normal moon.

This broad definition means there are, on average, four to six supermoons a year. There were three in 2017 - in January, November and December - and just two in 2018.

But some define it more precisely, saying a supermoon must be less than 360,000km (223,694 miles) from Earth.

On that basis, the December 2017 supermoon was the only proper one that year and the January 1 supermoon is the only one in 2018.

The supermoon on November 14, 2016, was the closest since January 26, 1948 .

On November 25 , 2034, the moon will be even closer than that.

When the moon is at its farthest point, it is is called a micromoon . That only happens about twice a year.

What effect will the supermoon have on Earth and people?

Supermoons are closer to the Earth, creating stronger gravitational forces than those of a normal full moon and producing higher tides and bigger waves.

The gravitational pull is said to be 20 to 30 per cent stronger - or even as much as 50 per cent.

It means the tide will be around two inches higher than normal. And although that doesn't sound like much, meteorologists say higher tides combined with high winds could lead to coastal flooding or produce more intense storms.

It's also thought that supermoons cause a small increase in tectonic activity by exerting a greater gravitational pull on the molten rock beneath the surface of the Earth, making the ground rise and fall just like the tides in the ocean.

This could then put extra strain on fault lines, triggering an earthquake.

Geologists in Japan believe a supermoon led to the powerful New Zealand earthquake in November 2016.

They claim that several other large earthquakes happened at similar times of 'tidal stress.'

In addition, vets have recorded more cases of injuries to cats and dogs around the time of a full moon - possibly because the animals are active for longer at night because of bright moonlight.

And some scientific studies have found human sleep patterns are affected - with people sleeping for around 20 minutes LESS on and around the day of a full moon.</s>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The moon is providing a rare triple treat this week.

On Wednesday, much of the world will get to see not only a blue moon and a supermoon, but also a total lunar eclipse, all rolled into one. There hasn't been a triple lineup like this since 1982 and the next won't occur until 2037.

The eclipse will be visible best in the western half of the U.S. and Canada before the moon sets early Wednesday morning, and across the Pacific into Asia as the moon rises Wednesday night into Thursday.

The U.S. East Coast will be out of luck; the moon will be setting just as the eclipse gets started. Europe and most of Africa and South America also will pretty much miss the show.

A blue moon is the second full moon in a month. A supermoon is a particularly close full or new moon, appearing somewhat brighter and bigger. A total lunar eclipse — or blood moon for its reddish tinge — has the moon completely bathed in Earth's shadow.

"I'm calling it the Super Bowl of moons," lunar scientist Noah Petro said Monday from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Others prefer "super blue blood moon."

Either way, it's guaranteed to impress, provided the skies are clear.

The moon will actually be closest to Earth on Tuesday — just over 223,000 miles (359,000 kilometers). That's about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) farther than the supermoon on Jan. 1. Midway through Wednesday's eclipse, the moon will be even farther away — 223,820 miles (360,200 kilometers) — but still within unofficial supermoon guidelines.

While a supermoon is considered less serious and scientific than an eclipse, it represents a chance to encourage people to start looking at the moon, according to Petro.

"I'm a lunar scientist. I love the moon. I want to advocate for the moon," he said.

Throw in a blue moon, and "that's too good of an opportunity to pass," according to Petro.

As the sun lines up perfectly with the Earth and then moon for the eclipse, scientists will make observations from a telescope in Hawaii, while also collecting data from NASA's moon-circling Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2009.

Just like the total solar eclipse in the U.S. last August cooled the Earth's surface, a lunar eclipse cools the moon's surface. It's this abrupt cooling — from the heat of direct sunlight to essentially a deep freeze — that researchers will be studying.

Totality will last more than an hour.

"The moon is one of the most amazing objects in our solar system," Petro said. "It really is the key to understanding the solar system, through interpreting the geology and surface of the moon."

NASA plans to provide a live stream of the moon from telescopes in California and Arizona, beginning at 5:30 a.m. EST.

___

Online:

NASA: https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/lunar.html</s>Skywatchers will get a rare triple treat Jan. 31, with a supermoon, a blue moon and a total lunar eclipse.

How rare is the event? Even without the supermoon, it's the first blue moon total lunar eclipse in the U.S. since March 1866, less than a year after the Civil War ended, according to EarthSky.org.

A blue moon — which occur about every 2½ years — is another term for the second full moon in a single calendar month. January's first full moon occurred Jan. 1.

Though the exact moment of this full moon is 8:37 a.m. ET Jan. 31, the moon will appear plenty full for a day or two before and after that.

However, the moon won't actually appear blue.

As for the total lunar eclipse, it will be visible early in the morning of Jan. 31 from western North America across the Pacific to eastern Asia, NASA said.

In the United States, the best view of the eclipse will be along the West Coast. For skywatchers in the central and eastern U.S., only a partial eclipse will be visible, as the moon will set before totality.

 

 “The lunar eclipse on January 31 will be visible during moonset," said Noah Petro, a research scientist from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. "Folks in the eastern United States, where the eclipse will be partial, will have to get up in the morning to see it."

The eclipse will last almost 3½ hours from the beginning of the partial phase at 3:48 a.m. PT until it ends at 7:12 a.m. PT, according to Sky and Telescope. Totality lasts a generous 77 minutes, from 4:51 a.m. PT to 6:08 a.m. PT.

By that time, however, the moon will already have set in the eastern time zone.

The full moon will take on a dark, reddish appearance during the eclipse, so another word to describe it is a blood moon. Adding to the naming confusion, this full moon was also known as the "snow moon" by some Native American tribes.

Finally, a supermoon occurs when the full moon is at the closest point of its orbit to the Earth, which is also called the perigee.

That makes the moon look extra-close and extra bright — up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than a full moon at its farthest point from Earth, known as the apogee, NASA said.</s>Skywatchers will get a rare triple treat early this Wednesday, Jan. 31: a supermoon, a blue moon and a total lunar eclipse.

How rare is the event? Even without the supermoon, it's the first blue moon total lunar eclipse in the U.S. since March 1866, less than a year after the Civil War ended, according to EarthSky.org.

A blue moon — which occurs about every 2½ years — is another term for the second full moon in a single calendar month. January's first full moon occurred Jan. 1.

“These three lunar events separately are not uncommon, but it is rare for all three to occur at the same time,” AccuWeather meteorologist and astronomy blogger Brian Lada said.

Though the exact moment of this full moon is 8:37 a.m. ET Jan. 31, the moon will appear plenty full for a day or two before and after that.

However, the moon doesn't actually appear blue.

As for the total lunar eclipse, it will be visible early in the morning of Jan. 31 from western North America across the Pacific to eastern Asia, NASA said.

In the United States, the best view of the eclipse will be along the West Coast. For skywatchers in the central and eastern U.S., only a partial eclipse will be visible since the moon will set before totality.

“The lunar eclipse on Jan. 31 will be visible during moonset," said Noah Petro, a research scientist from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. "Folks in the eastern United States, where the eclipse will be partial, will have to get up in the morning to see it."

The eclipse will last almost 3½ hours from the beginning of the partial phase at 3:48 a.m. PT until it ends at 7:12 a.m. PT, according to Sky and Telescope. Totality lasts a generous 77 minutes, from 4:51 a.m. PT to 6:08 a.m. PT.

By that time, however, the moon will already have set in the eastern time zone.

As for the weather, clear skies are forecast across the eastern and south-central United States, according to AccuWeather.

Additionally, some astronomy historians can quibble about the origin of the "blue moon" name: It was originally a name for a season that had four full moons instead of three; a definition which was later mistakenly expanded to two full moons in a single month.

But even the venerable publication Sky & Telescope — in which the original "mistake" was made decades ago — said that "the second-full-moon-in-a-month (mis)interpretation is like a genie that can't be forced back into its bottle. But that's not necessarily a bad thing."

The full moon will take on a dark, reddish appearance during the eclipse, so another phrase used to describe it is a blood moon. Adding to the naming confusion, this full moon was also known as the "snow moon" by some Native American tribes.

Finally, a supermoon occurs when the full moon is at the closest point of its orbit to the Earth, which is also called the perigee.

That makes the moon look extra-close and extra bright — up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than a full moon at its farthest point from Earth, known as the apogee, NASA said.</s>The moon put on a rare cosmic show Wednesday.It was the first time in 35 years a blue moon has synced up with a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse.Hawaii and Alaska had the best seats, along with the Canadian Yukon, Australia and Asia. The western U.S. should had good viewing, too, along with Russia. The U.S. East Coast, Europe and most of South America and Africa were out of luck for the eclipse.The second full moon in a calendar month is a blue moon. This one also happened to be an especially close and bright moon, or supermoon. Add a total eclipse, known as a blood moon for its red tint, and it's a lunar showstopper.The moon passed into the Earth's shadow, and when it did that, it turned a really deep beautiful red due to the Earth's atmosphere, hence the name "blood moon."We didn't see a total lunar eclipse here in the tri-state area, you would have had to head out west for that.NASA called it a lunar trifecta: the first super blue blood moon since 1982. That combination won't happen again until 2037.The space agency provided a live stream of the moon from ground telescopes, throughout the eclipse.A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon line up perfectly, casting Earth's shadow on the moon.Scientists are keen to study the sharp, sudden drop in temperature at the lunar surface, as Earth's shadow blankets the moon. During the more than one hour of totality, the temperature will plunge 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), said lunar scientist Noah Petro of Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. He's deputy project scientist for NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, circling the moon since 2009. His team is taking special precautions to keep the spacecraft warm during the eclipse.Perhaps just as important, Petro and others are hoping the big event gets more people looking up - not just Wednesday, but every day.For the trivia crowd, the moon will be 223,820 miles (360,200 kilometers) away at the peak of the eclipse, close enough for supermoon status.----------</s>Anaheim, California, Jan 31 (EFE).- People across the United States and in many other parts of the world on Wednesday observed a rare lunar eclipse known as a super blue blood moon.



The event, which began at 5.45 am EST (1045 GMT) and ended at 11.15 am, is so-named because three celestial phenomena occur simultaneously: a supermoon (when the moon’s perigree, or point in its orbit at which it is nearest to the earth, coincides with a full moon), a blue moon (second full moon in one calendar month) and a blood moon (a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon).



The total lunar eclipse hit its peak at around 1329 GMT on Wednesday and the best places to observe the lunar trifecta were in the pre-dawn hours in the western US, Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands (just before the moon set) and during moonrise in East Asia and Oceania.



During a total lunar eclipse, which happens around twice every three years, the moon becomes tinged with a copper hue due to the reflection of sunlight.



The blue moon, meanwhile, a term that has nothing to do with that astronomical body’s color, happens about once every 2.7 years.



Because the eclipse occurred at a time when the moon was near its perigree, it appeared especially large and bright to skywatchers.



According to the Web site space.com, Wednesday’s event marked the first time in more than 150 years (since March 31, 1866) that a total lunar eclipse coincided with a blue moon in North America.</s>It's the first time in 35 years a blue moon has synced up with a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse.

Hawaii and Alaska have the best seats, along with the Canadian Yukon, Australia and Asia.

The western US should have good viewing, too, along with Russia.

The US East Coast, Europe and most of South America and Africa are out of luck for the eclipse.

The second full moon in a calendar month is a blue moon.

This one also happens to be an especially close and bright moon, or supermoon.

Add a total eclipse, known as a blood moon for its red tint, and it's a lunar showstopper.

NASA is calling it a lunar trifecta: the first super blue blood moon since 1982.

That combination won't happen again until 2037.

The space agency plans to provide a live stream of the moon from ground telescopes, throughout the eclipse.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon line up perfectly, casting Earth's shadow on the moon.</s>The pre-dawn hours of January 31 will play host to an incredibly rare celestial convergence -- a "super blue blood moon."

To better understand the lunar triple whammy, here's your all-you-need-to-know guide.

It may sound like the apocalypse is nigh, so let's break it down by its three parts: "super," "blue" and "blood."

So, a "supermoon" is when a full moon occurs at the same time as its perigee, the closest point of the moon's orbit with Earth. The result: the moon appears larger than normal and NASA is predicting this one will be 14% brighter than usual.

Chances are you have used the phrase "once in a blue moon" -- but have you ever wondered where it came from? The well-known idiom actually refers to the rare instance when there is a second full moon in a calendar month. The first supermoon of 2018 -- which took place on New Year's Day -- was previously described by NASA as the "biggest and brightest" one expected for the entire year.

Then completing this "lunar trifecta" is the "blood" element. Although it does not have a scientific definition, a "blood moon" occurs during a lunar eclipse when faint red sunbeams peek out around the edges of the moon, giving it a reddish, copper color.

Where can I see it?

Eager stargazers living in North America, Alaska or Hawaii will be able to see the eclipse before sunrise on Wednesday, according to NASA. For those in the Middle East, Asia, eastern Russia, Australia and New Zealand, the "super blue blood moon" will be visible during moonrise on the morning of January 31.

As long as the weather doesn't try to ruin things, observers in Alaska, Australia, eastern Asia and Hawaii will be experience the whole phenomenon from start to finish.

For those living in the US, NASA says the best spots to watch the entire celestial show will be in California and western Canada.

"Weather permitting, the West Coast, Alaska and Hawaii will have a spectacular view of totality from start to finish," said George Johnston, lunar blogger at NASA, in a press statement. "Unfortunately, eclipse viewing will be more challenging in the eastern time zone. The eclipse begins at 5.51 a.m. ET, as the moon is about to set in the western sky, and the sky is getting lighter in the east."

For observers living in New York or Washington D.C., the space agency suggests a 6.45 a.m. ET start for the best viewing.

"Your best opportunity if you live in the east is to head outside about 6.45 a.m. and get to a high place to watch the start of the eclipse," Johnston said. "Make sure you have a clear line of sight to the horizon in the west, opposite from where the sun will rise."

Where the moon is covered by the Earth's shadow, known as the period of totality, it will last just over one and a quarter hours, according to EarthSky. And unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is perfectly safe to watch in the night with the naked eye.

And fear not luna-tic's, Virtual Telescope will be streaming the event live for those of you unable to view it up close.

There are usually a couple of lunar eclipses each year so if you do miss it this time around, the next one will happen on July 27 -- though it won't be visible in North America. It'll be a long wait for skywatchers in the US as Johnston predicts the next visible lunar eclipse will be on January 21, 2019.</s>A blue moon normally occurs once every two years, but in 2018, two blue moons will rise within two months of each other. What is even more unusual about the January 31 blue moon is that it is coupled with a total lunar eclipse for the first time in more than 150 years. Tomorrow’s lunar eclipse also marks the end of NASA’s ‘Supermoon Trilogy’ and will take on a reddish hue during the eclipse – hence it is known as the blood moon. NASA said: “The January 31 full moon is special for three reasons: it’s the third in a series of ‘supermoons’, when the Moon is closer to Earth in its orbit – known as perigee – and about 14 percent brighter than usual.

“It’s also the second full moon of the month, commonly known as a ‘blue moon’. “The super blue moon will pass through Earth’s shadow to give viewers in the right location a total lunar eclipse. “While the Moon is in the Earth’s shadow it will take on a reddish tint, known as a ‘blood moon’.” The super blue moon eclipse is the perfect opportunity for professional photographers and astronomy enthusiasts alike to snap the perfect picture of Earth’s only natural satellite.

Award wining photographer David Noton said: “The most evocative and genuine use of the moon in landscape portraits results from situations when the light on the moon balances with the twilight in the surrounding sky. Read Mr Noton’s full guide to snapping the perfect photo of the blue moon 2018 here. The super blue moon will be visible across the entire globe tomorrow, but only select parts on Earth’s nightside will catch a glimpse of the eclipse.

According to NASA, the eclipse will pass over large swathes of Asia, the Pacific, Australia, Russia and even parts of West North America and Northeast Europe. The eclipse starts tomorrow around 5.51am ET (10.51am GMT), before reaching totality at 7.50am EST (12.50am GMT). If you do not live in any of these zones, find out how to watch the eclipse 2018 live stream online tomorrow. But the supermoon should be a thrilling spectacle in and of itself, and Royal Observatory Greenwich teased that the full moon could appear up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter.

This is because the supermoon will approach its perigee, or closest orbital distance to Earth. The Observatory said: “So long as there’s not too much cloud, the full moon will be an unmistakable white orb in the sky. “This is a good opportunity to use a small telescope or a pair of binoculars to see the Moon's detailed surface, or even try taking a few interesting moon photos.” The super blue moon will be perfectly visible to the naked eye.
A lunar eclipse is seen in Oceania, Asia, and North America, coinciding with a supermoon and blue moon.