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All the amateur astronomers and space fans had a field day early on Sunday night or Monday morning, depending on where in the world they were. That was when the 2019 total lunar eclipse appeared in the sky, and now millions of people have shared their own photos of the "super blood wolf moon."
While lunar eclipses in general aren't particularly rare, super blood wolf moons are. Each element of the name explains something different about the eclipse, as Fortune explained. Lunar eclipses are also known as "blood moons," because an eclipse, the Earth blocks the sun's light from reaching the moon's surface directly. This mean's that you're actually seeing the moon in the shadow of the Earth, where it appears red. A super moon occurs at the time when the moon is closest to the Earth in its orbit, so it appears slightly bigger in the sky. A wolf moon, finally, is a full moon that takes place in January. These four conditions rarely occur at the same time, so the super blood wolf moon is truly a special thing.
A significant segment of the global population was able to see this total lunar eclipse: both North and South America, along with parts of Europe and North Africa, as the BBC wrote. This means, among other things, that the photos coursing through Twitter in its aftermath are truly something to behold.
1
An Official Photo
Before we get to the fun stuff, this photo from the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles gives the moon its much deserved close up.
3
An Eclipse In The Clouds
Pittsburgh didn't have clear viewing, but it didn't ruin the shot.
4
Different Faces
Because the moon and the Earth are both always moving in relation to each other, the eclipse is a dynamic sight.
5
See The Transition
These photos were taken in the English beach town of Brighton.
6
Multiple Reds
When you hear "blood," you think "red" — but that really doesn't do it justice.
7
Sharing The Spotlight
This photographer in Seattle caught a plane along with the moon.
9
Through The Trees
It's not too difficult to imagine that this is a still from a Harry Potter movie.
10
A Dramatic Shot
Throw a statue into a shot with the moon, and you get something pretty spectacular.
11
Red Moon, Red Sky
This time, the light pollution actually caused something pretty cool.
12
The Whole Thing
A lot of work went into this compound shot, but it was definitely worth it.
13
A Final Look
Unlike some celestial phenomena, the lunar eclipse was visible to the naked eye — even in an extraordinarily light area like New York City.
If you missed this lunar eclipse and you're regretting it now, have no fear. Total lunar eclipses come around fairly regularly, and according to TimeAndDate.com, the next one visible in North America will happen in May 2021.
