'Super Blood Moon' in Pics

Blood moon!

In a rare celestial treat, a ‘super blood moon’ -- which according to legend handed down over the ages has been seen as a sign of a possible apocalypse-- was visible in the US night time sky on September 27.

Blood moon!

The last such event, when a total lunar eclipse coincided with a ‘Supermoon’ occurred 33 years ago, and it has happened only four times in the last 115 years.

Blood moon!

A ‘super blood moon’ only happens during a lunar eclipse and when the moon is at its closest point to the Earth in its orbit.

Blood moon!

As the the moon passes into the shadow of the Earth, it takes on a deep-red colour due to the only sunlight reaching it being refracted through the planet’s atmosphere.

Blood moon!

Civilisations throughout the ages look at this celestial rarity as an ominous sign of an apocalypse.

Blood moon!

So, what does a Supermoon really mean? It only means the moon looks a bit bigger than its usual size, since it’s a bit closer to the Earth than otherwise.

Blood moon!

“Because the orbit of the moon is not a perfect circle, the moon is sometimes closer to the Earth than at other times during its orbit,” NASA scientist Noah Petro said in a statement.

Blood moon!

This is the last total lunar eclipse visible anywhere on Earth until 2018, according to Sky and Telescope magazine.

Blood moon!

Americans will actually see a total solar eclipse (in August 2017) before the next total lunar eclipse. The total eclipse began at 10:11 pm EDT (7:11 pm PDT) Sunday evening and lasted one hour and 12 minutes.

Blood moon!

It was visible across North and South America, Europe, Africa, and parts of West Asia and the eastern Pacific, NASA said.

Blood moon!

There was no need of special glasses or gizmos to view it, unlike a solar eclipse, many stared directly at the moon.

Blood moon!

Binoculars or a telescope also improved the view.