FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — A full lunar eclipse combined with the Super Flower Blood Moon reached its peak early Wednesday morning, and the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff livestreamed the cosmic event.
Watch the lunar eclipse livestream
The total eclipse lasted about 15 minutes as Earth passes directly between the moon and the sun. But the entire show lasted five hours, as Earth's shadow gradually covered the moon, then started to ebb.
The eclipse began at 1:47 a.m. (PDT) and the partial eclipse began at 2:44 a.m. The full eclipse began about an hour and a half later at 4:11 a.m. (PDT), and the exact moment of the total eclipse occurred at 4:25 a.m.
The Lowell Observatory, a nonprofit research institution in Flagstaff, streamed the event in the player below.
What’s a Super Flower Blood Moon?
A super moon is when the moon is at its closest distance to Earth.
A blood moon is when the moon is a dark red color from a partial or full lunar eclipse.
The ‘flower’ part is an old Farmer’s Almanac reference for a moon in the month of May.
What is a total lunar eclipse?
Lunar eclipses occur when the moon is full and the Earth blocks the sun’s light from reaching the moon, according to Lowell's website. When the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, it appears darker when viewed from Earth’s surface. This darker hue can sometimes take on a reddish-orange color, which is why total lunar eclipses are sometimes referred to as Blood Moons, according to Lowell.
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