'Super Blood Moon' Makes First Appearance In 33 Years
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A rare astronomical phenomenon called a super blood moon dawned the sky Sunday night.
Yes, a super blood moon.
The last time it happened was 1982, and it won't be back until 2033.
CBS 2 Reporter Brittney Hopper spoke to scientists, families, and spectators who were all in attendance on Sunday.
Children were especially thrilled with the super blood moon.
"My kids are really into space, the stars, and the moon, so we figured we should come up and see it before they;re too big to care," spectator T.J. Brady said.
The super blood moon is actually three separate celestial occurrences in one.
For one, stargazers will see a supermoon, which means the moon will be full and at its closest point of orbit and thus appear larger than usual.
There will also be a total lunar eclipse -- starting at 7:11 p.m. PST and peaking at 7:47 p.m. PST -- meaning that the Earth will line up directly in between the sun and moon, casting a shadow across the moon's surface.
Lastly, the moon will have an unusual reddish color -- the "blood moon" part -- thanks to dispersed light scattering off of Earth's atmosphere.
The event is so rare, someone even created a blood moon emoji.
The event is not to be confused with a blue moon, paper moon, harvest moon or moon in June.
Some headlines in England warn of the super blood moon causing catastrophic events on earth, like planet-destroying quakes, but astronomers and other scientists (as well as the Mormon church) say don't bet on any cataclysmic events.
Viewing parties were organized throughout the Los Angeles area.
Groups of spectators gathered at Franklin Canyon Park in Beverly Hills, Vista Hermosa Natural Park in downtown Los Angeles, parking lot 30 at UC Riverside, and, of course, the Griffith Observatory in Los Feliz.
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