14 DAY TRIAL // If you happen to be an astronomy enthusiast, here's something to look forward to this September: a supermoon lunar eclipse that scientists over at NASA say will happen on the 27th day of the month.
During lunar eclipses, the Moon passes behind the Earth. When the orb is positioned in our planet's shadow, the Moon's surface turns reddish, which is why lunar eclipses are sometimes known as blood moons.
The lunar eclipse that will happen this coming September 27 will be all the more impressive because it will coincide with the Moon being especially close to Earth and, consequently, appearing bigger.
More precisely, NASA researchers say that, during the September 27 so-called supermoon lunar eclipse, our planet's natural satellite will appear in the sky about 14% larger than it usually is.
The event will only be visible during nighttime to folks in North and South America. Astronomy aficionados in Europe and in Africa, on the other hand, can hope to witness it in the early morning hours of September 28.
As you've probably figured out on your own, supermoon lunar eclipses are extremely rare. Since 1900, such a cosmic event has only been documented on 5 occasions.
The last time a supermoon lunar eclipse happened was back in 1982. Apart from the one scheduled for the end of this year's September, there won't be another until 2033, so best save the date and don't miss the upcoming show.
