Stunning moon for early risers
Rare super moon lunar eclipse was visible across most of France as satellite glowed orange
STAR-gazers were well rewarded for rising early this morning to see the rare super moon lunar eclipse hanging orange in the western sky.
Most of France had clear skies with only wispy cloud in the south-east obscuring the moon for a few moments before clearing.
Known as a ‘blood moon’ for its red colour, the eclipse came as the Earth came between the moon and sun and obscured direct sunlight. The sun’s rays were scattered in the earth’s atmosphere, shining red on the moon.
It was easily recognisable in the constellation of Pisces and when it peaked at 4.47 there was little chance of mistaking it for the red planet Mars as it is much larger in the sky.
As it was a super moon - when the satellite is at perigee and at its closest approach to the Earth – it was fractionally larger in the sky, but this was difficult to see unless the moon was seen near a ground object: such as Glastonbury Tor in The Guardian tweet below
'Blood moon' rises as super moon and lunar eclipse combine – pictures from around the world http://t.co/3itXeOAXrM pic.twitter.com/IGZBNsmJU6— The Guardian (@guardian) September 28, 2015
The lunar eclipse was all over by 6.27 as it settled over the horizon. This was the first chance to see the super moon eclipse since 1982 and it will not come again until 2033.
The next lunar eclipse will be on January 31, 2018 - but it will not be visible from France – and the next super moon is much closer, happening in a month on Ocober 27.
Our top photo came from Flickr user FloZe and for those who did not catch it, Sky and Telescope magazine has put out a video of the full event below
PHOTOS - Les plus belles images de la "super-lune de sang" http://t.co/9KELP9UBbo— Le HuffPost (@LeHuffPost) September 28, 2015
Les plus belles photos de la super-lune de sang
http://t.co/ae2gTMwv7g #SuperBloodMoon pic.twitter.com/3LN1S5F1g2— Le Figaro (@Le_Figaro) September 28, 2015
PHOTOS. Tour du monde de la #SuperBloodMoon en 26 images > http://t.co/c6T9k6mt0J pic.twitter.com/HQttuzDCzC— L'Obs (@LeNouvelObs) September 28, 2015
