The Earth's shadow falls across the full moon above San Mateo, CA., Wednesday, May 26, 2021. The total lunar eclipse, also known as a super blood moon is the only in 2021 with the reddish-orange color the result of all the sunrises and sunsets in Earth's atmosphere projected onto the surface of the eclipsed moon. (Scot Tucker / SFBay.ca)
The Super Flower Blood Moon seen in the sky from the Bay Area early Wednesday is a rare astronomical trifecta: a full moon, a total lunar eclipse and a supermoon.
The full eclipse, which reached its peak around 4:14 a.m., was visible in the western U.S. and Canada, as well as in portions of Central and South America.
Every full moon is has a name based on historical observations. Traditionally, people see more flowers blooming in May, thus the Flower Moon. Corn is also planted during May so this full moon may be referred to as the Corn Planting Moon.
A supermoon occurs when full moon is closest to the earth during its orbit. Wednesday’s supermoon will be the closest to the earth for 2021.
Just as wolves don’t appear everywhere during January’s Wolf Moon, the Blood Moon does not bleed. Blood describes the reddish color of the moon as the sun’s light bends in the earth’s atmosphere during a total lunar eclipse when the earth sits directly between the sun and moon.
Last modified May 26, 2021 11:37 am
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