The September 27 sky will host a rare view... a super moon and a total lunar eclipse, too! Go out and see something amazing!
The supermoon will rise at about 6:30 p.m. CDT across Alabama. (Get moonrise times for other locations throughout the United States here.) The lunar eclipse will begin at 8:07 p.m. CDT (or 9:07 p.m. EDT and 6:07 p.m. PDT).
The total eclipse will last over a hour and begin at 9:11 p.m. CDT (or 10:11 p.m. EDT or 7:11 p.m. PDT)
Not only will there be an eclipse, but the moon will also be about 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than usual -- a supermoon.
Supermoons are not not rare. In fact this is the fifth one in 2015 alone. But Sunday's moon will be the closest to Earth in all of 2015, coming within 221,753 miles of our planet.
Tonight's supermoon is rare because of its timing with the total lunar eclipse. The last time it happened was in 1982, and the next time it will happen will be in 2033.
This eclipse will also bring about the fourth and final blood moon of a lunar tetrad that began in 2014. (A lunar tetrad is used to describe four total lunar eclipses in a row, separated by six lunar months or six full moons).
If the weather doesn't cooperate in your area go to this live stream from Nasa.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc
If the weather doesn't cooperate in your area go to this live stream from Nasa.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc