A Cosmic Trio: Key Details About Tonight's Lunar Eclipse

Tonight, sky watchers will unite for another spectacular show as three astronomical events collide during the full moon.

On the heels of last month’s blue supermoon, we can plan for this month’s harvest moon to appear as a supermoon featuring a blood moon with a partial lunar eclipse. We’ll say it for you: “Wow.”

While it’s true the fall season ushers in harvest moons – and supermoons appear three or four times a year – we won’t see all three celestial events coincide again until 2033. This is part of what makes a blue moon so rare; it’s an additional full moon that occurs within this cycle cycle. 

For clarity, a moon is classified as a supermoon when it’s full and closest to the Earth in its orbit. Meanwhile, a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth finds itself between the sun and a full moon, causing the moon to pass through Earth's shadow.

When to Watch the Harvest Supermoon and Lunar Eclipse