California

Stargazers, Rejoice! Super Blue Blood Moon Illuminates Bay Area Sky

For the first time in about 150 years, the moon treated Bay Area stargazers to quite the rare and celestial show.

A blue moon, supermoon and total lunar eclipse, all bundled together as one, illuminated the pre-dawn sky for roughly three hours Wednesday morning.

[BAY ML BW]Rare Super Blue Blood Moon Delights Bay Area Stargazers

The phenomenon known as a super blue blood moon hasn't happened since 1982, and it's the first time since 1866 that people in the United States have actually been able to catch a glimpse of the lunar trifecta. The next super blue blood moon won't happen again until 2037.

A blue moon is the second full moon in a month. A supermoon is a particularly close full or new moon, appearing somewhat brighter and bigger. A total lunar eclipse — or blood moon for its reddish tinge — has the moon completely bathed in Earth's shadow.

Bernie Sanders was projected to win the Democratic primary in Oregon on Tuesday, while front-runner Hillary Clinton was the apparent winner of an extremely close race in Kentucky, NBC News reported. Clinton was hoping a strong showing Tuesday would blunt Sanders' momentum ahead of a likely general election matchup against Republican Donald Trump. Trump, the only Republican candidate in the race, picked up another state on Tuesday by winning Oregon.

The eclipse was visible best in the western half of the U.S. and Canada before the moon set Wednesday morning. The total lunar eclipse started to take shape at 3:48 a.m. before the full eclipse kicked in between 4:51 a.m. and 6:07 a.m. The partial eclipse came to an end at 7:11 a.m.

Aside from simply stepping out of one's home, finding the nearest rooftop or climbing to the nearest hilltop, people across the Bay Area were allowed to visit a few locations that opened early to witness the rare display.

Rise and shine, Bay Area. The moon is putting on quite the show Wednesday morning. Sharon Katsuda reports.

Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland opened up its observatory deck at 3 a.m. for viewing. Those interested in attending were encouraged to bring a pair of binoculars, warm clothes and a blanket or two.

Right down the hill, another viewing party took place at the USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum stationed in Alameda. Visitors 6 years old and above were allowed to spend the night aboard the ship and wake up hours later to take in the lunar trifecta.

NBC Bay Area’s Scott Budman tracks the super blue blood moon from the South Bay.

Folks near Los Altos Hills paid a visit to Foothill College Observatory where a viewing event was scheduled between 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.

The Stanford University Astronomical Society hosted a viewing from Lake Lagunita by the bonfire pit with hot beverages and snacks from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m.

For those who couldn't make it outside or find a clear viewing area, NASA provided a live stream of the moon from telescopes in California and Arizona.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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