The wild name for Sunday’s lunar eclipse helped draw crowds to Griffith Observatory. Rick Montantez reports for NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Jan. 20, 2019.
We have an incredible sight to behold Sunday night Jan. 20.
It’s the Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse! Yes, that's it's name. And its the first time in three years the entire United States can see the total lunar eclipse. This unique names comes from a variety of factors.
AP
A supermoon rises behind the downtown Los Angeles skyline, as seen from Kenneth Hahn Park in Los Angeles, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. The year's first supermoon, when a full moon appears a little bigger and brighter thanks to its slightly closer position to Earth, is one of two lunar events Sunday. If skies are clear, a total eclipse will also be visible in North and South America, and parts of Europe. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
AP
This combination photo shows the totally eclipsed moon, center, and others at the different stages during a total lunar eclipse, as seen from Los Angeles, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. It was also the year's first supermoon, when a full moon appears a little bigger and brighter thanks to its slightly closer position. During totality, the moon will look red because of sunlight scattering off Earth's atmosphere. That's why an eclipsed moon is sometimes known as a blood moon. In January, the full moon is also sometimes known as the wolf moon or great spirit moon. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
AP
The moon, known as a supermoon due to its slightly closer proximity to Earth, is barely visible in total eclipse over Los Angeles City Hall, one of many iconic area buildings bathed in blue light in support of the L.A. Rams in their NFC championship game Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. The eclipse came and went as predicted. The Rams defeated the New Orleans Saints and are headed to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Halie Cook
The Super Wolf Blood Moon Eclipse as viewed from Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 20, 2019.
Halie Cook
The Super Wolf Blood Moon Eclipse as viewed from Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 20, 2019.
Halie Cook
The Super Wolf Blood Moon Eclipse as viewed from Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 20, 2019.
Julie Farias
NBC4 viewer shares photo of the Super Wolf Blood Moon Eclipse on Jan. 20, 2019.
Halie Cook
The Super Wolf Blood Moon Eclipse as viewed from Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 20, 2019.
Halie Cook
The Super Wolf Blood Moon Eclipse as viewed from Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 20, 2019.
Halie Cook
The Super Wolf Blood Moon Eclipse as viewed from Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 20, 2019.
Halie Cook
The Super Wolf Blood Moon Eclipse as viewed from Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 20, 2019.
Halie Cook
The Super Wolf Blood Moon Eclipse as viewed from Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 20, 2019.
Halie Cook
The Super Wolf Blood Moon Eclipse as viewed from Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 20, 2019.
Halie Cook
The Super Wolf Blood Moon Eclipse as viewed from Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California on Jan. 20, 2019.
Richard Jones
A view of the Super Blood Wolf Moon Jan. 20, 2019 over Southern California.
Christa Wallis
A view of the Super Blood Wolf Moon Jan. 20, 2019 as seen from Highland.
KNBC-TV
A view of the Super Blood Wolf Moon Jan. 20, 2019 as seen from Palmdale.
Ira Goldstein
A view of the Super Blood Wolf Moon Jan. 20, 2019 as seen from Burbank.
Sarah Glover/NBC Philadelphia, File
A view of the Super Blood Wolf Moon Jan. 20, 2019 over Southern California.
Russ Namahoe
A view of the Super Blood Wolf Moon Jan. 20, 2019 as seen from Huntington Beach.
Steven Hahn
A view of the Super Blood Wolf Moon Jan. 20, 2019 over Southern California.
barbara bowen
A view of the Super Blood Wolf Moon Jan. 20, 2019 as seen from Panorama City.
It’s a supermoon because the full moon is within 90 percent of its closest possible distance to Earth. On Jan. 20, the moon is 222,274 miles from Earth with the moon’s orbital range from 221,681 miles (perigee) to 252,6222 miles (apogee) this year. Because of the proximity to Earth supermoons appear bigger and brighter than an average full moon.
Above is an example of what 7 percent bigger across and 13 percent bigger in area than average looks like.
Total lunar eclipses are called blood moons because the moon turns a dark red as it enters Earth’s shadow. The reason the moon appears this color during totality is because the only light that is able to get to the surface of the moon is red. Imagine being on the moon and looking up at Earth during an eclipse. At this moment you are seeing every sunrise and sunset on Earth. The red ring around Earth is what is refracted to the surface of the moon.
The January full moon is known as a "wolf moon" named after wolves who howl more in their breeding season.
Here is what you need to know the night of the 20th.
The partial eclipse begins at 7:34 p.m. with the moon appearing high in the northern sky. The eclipse lasts for almost three and a half hours with totality one hour and three minutes. That’s plenty of time, with clear skies, to see the blood moon. Here are your eclipse times on the west coast (PST).
The lunar eclipse begins the moment the moon’s leading edge slips into the penumbra. The penumbra is the area of partial shadow where part of the sun is still visible.
Penumbral shading becomes deeper as the moon moves toward the first partial phase, which begins when the moon’s leading edge enters Earth’s umbra. The umbra is the innermost and darkest part of a shadow, where the light from the sun is completely blocked by the Earth. When the moon is within Earth’s umbral cone, no direct sunlight falls on its surface.
Totality starts when the trailing edge of the moon enters the umbra.
This is a picture I took from the Sept. 27, 2015 eclipse from Universal Studios. It was the last time everyone in the U.S. could see a lunar eclipse.
Jan. 20 will be the final time a lunar eclipse and a supermoon occur at the same time until May 2021.
If you do capture a great picture NBC4 would love to see it. Please tag @nbcla or @anthonynbcla on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. You can also send your eclipse pictures to isee@nbcla.com.
