from National Geographic

On the evening of September 27, three separate lunar events converge. 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 supermoon or perigee moon. That’s why it’s being coined by some as a Super Harvest Blood Moon.

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 will be 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 will be 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.

Click the above link to learn even more about this unusual lunar event.

Below is the schedule for this eclipse in North America. Note that the moon doesn’t actually rise in the USA until after the eclipse has already started.

Pacific Zone
Begins: 5:11 pm
Moon Rise: 6:54 pm
Maximum: 7:47 pm
Ends: 10:22 pm

Mountain Zone
Begins: 6:11 pm
Moon Rise: 7:54 pm
Maximum: 8:47 pm
Ends: 11:22 pm

Central Zone
Begins: 7:11 pm
Moon Rise: 8:54 pm
Maximum: 9:47 pm
Ends: 12:22 am

Eastern Zone
Begins: 8:11 pm
Moon Rise: 9:54 pm
Maximum: 10:47 pm
Ends: 1:22 am

May you all have clear skys.

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” John Wooden