Skygazers around the world were treated to a supermoon Sunday night.
Supermoons occur when the moon is full and also at or near its closest point in orbit around the Earth. They appear larger and brighter than other full moons.
There are two supermoons happening in the month of January. The first occurs on New Year's Day, Jan. 1. The second will occur on Jan. 31.
The supermoon on the 31st will also feature a total lunar eclipse visible in western North America. Totally eclipsed moons are sometimes called "blood moons" because they appear a reddish color due to the way the Earth's atmosphere bends the sun's light.
Because it'll be the second full moon of the month, it can also be called a "blue moon," making it what NASA calls a "super blue blood moon." |