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Howl at the moon: Eclipse watchers revel at Blood Wolf Moon

Best viewing of one-hour total eclipse was from North and South America with some 2.8 billion people able to see it.

A full moon rises between clouds as a landing commercial jet approaches the airport before the start of a total lunar eclipse that is being called a ''Super Blood Wolf Moon'' in San Diego, California, U
The moon rises between clouds as a landing commercial jet approaches the airport before the start of a total lunar eclipse that is being called a 'Super Blood Wolf Moon' in San Diego, California. [Mike Blake/Reuters]
Published On 21 Jan 201921 Jan 2019
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The only total lunar eclipse this year and next came with a supermoon bonus.

On Sunday night, the moon, Earth and sun lined up to create the eclipse visible throughout North and South America where skies were clear. There won’t be another until 2021.

It was also the year’s first supermoon, when a full moon appears a little bigger and brighter thanks to its slightly closer position.

Skywatchers howled at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles when the full lunar eclipse appeared and our celestial neighbour was bathed reddish-orange during a Super Blood Wolf Moon.

“Amazing. As you can see, it’s a party atmosphere and everyone is just enjoying the spectacle,” said Rosalind Von Wendt from Los Angeles.

More than 1,500 people gathered at the observatory near the city’s famous Hollywood sign to watch the eclipse.

However, not everyone got to watch the cosmic show, with lunar eclipse parties cancelled elsewhere because of a flash freeze across the central and northeastern United States.

The best viewing of the one-hour total eclipse was from North and South America, with as many as 2.8 billion people able to see it from the Western Hemisphere, Europe, West Africa and northernmost Russia.

The entire eclipse took more than three hours. Totality – when the moon’s completely bathed in Earth’s shadow – lasted an hour.

During a total lunar eclipse, the eclipsed, or blood, the moon turns red from sunlight scattering off Earth’s atmosphere.

The "super blood wolf moon" is seen just before full eclipse in the skies above London, Britain, January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville -
The Super Blood Wolf Moon in the skies above London. On Sunday night, the moon, Earth and the sun lined up to create the only total lunar eclipse this year and next. [Toby Melville/Reuters]
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This photo shows the moon during a total lunar eclipse, seen from Los Angeles, Sunday Jan. 20, 2019. The entire eclipse will exceed three hours. Totality - when the moon''s completely bathed in Earth''s
The moon during the lunar eclipse as seen from Los Angeles. It was also the year's first supermoon, when a full moon appears a little bigger and brighter thanks to its slightly closer position. [Ringo HW Chiu/AP]
A U.S. Flag in downtown Washington flies in front of the moon during a lunar eclipse, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. The entire eclipse will exceed three hours. Totality - when the moon''s completely bathed in
The moon in the skies above Washington. The entire eclipse exceeded three hours. [J David Ake/AP]
This photo shows the moon partially covered during a total lunar eclipse seen over Asuncion, Paraguay, Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. The entire eclipse will exceed three hours. Totality - when the moon''s com
The moon partially covered during the total lunar eclipse as seen over Asuncion, Paraguay. Totality, when the moon's completely bathed in the Earth's shadow, lasted an hour. [Jorge Saenz/AP]
The Super Blood Wolf Moon eclipse between branches of a tree in Antwerp, Belgium, Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. The eclipse takes place when the full moon is at or near the closest point in its orbit to Eart
The Super Blood Wolf Moon, seen between branches of a tree in Antwerp, Belgium. [Virginia Mayo/AP]
The "super blood wolf moon" seen in the skies above Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden -
The Super Blood Wolf Moon in the skies above Tenby, Pembrokeshire in Wales. Besides the Americas, the lunar eclipse was visible all the way across the Atlantic to parts of Europe. [Rebecca Naden/Reuters]
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The "super blood wolf moon" is seen during a total lunar eclipse behind the gothic cathedral in Cologne, Germany, January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen
The lunar eclipse behind the gothic cathedral in Cologne, Germany. [Thilo Schmuelgen/Reuters]


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