An unusual celestial treat will bring what you might call a “lunar trifecta” this month.
From late evening of January 20 to the wee hours of January 21, stargazers can witness a total lunar eclipse, a super blood moon and a “Wolf Moon,” the Native American name for the midwinter full moon.
The coincidence of a closer-to-earth full moon with the eclipse will make it appear larger as the earth’s dark shadow turns it blood red.
If the skies are clear, the eclipse will be visible across the entire United States. The full eclipse begins at 11:41 p.m. and lasts 62 minutes before ending at 12:43 a.m. For more than an hour the moon will give off a bright reddish glow.
"The exact color that the moon appears depends on the amount of dust and clouds in the atmosphere," according to NASA scientists. "If there are extra particles in the atmosphere, from say a recent volcanic eruption, the moon will appear a darker shade of red."
A lunar eclipse is perhaps the easiest event in the skies to view. No special equipment or protection is needed, though the view will be clearer if you are away from street and house lights.
The next total lunar eclipse will not come until May 2021.