Millions of people across the Americas, Europe and Africa on Sunday were able to see the reddish glow of a rare and spectacular show in the sky — a lunar eclipse known as a “super flower blood moon.”
This rare event happens only when a series of conditions are at play. Along with there being a total lunar eclipse — when Earth is directly between the moon and the sun — the full moon must also be at its closest point to Earth, known as a “super moon.” The full moon in May is sometimes known as the flower moon since spring is in bloom in the Northern Hemisphere. The moon appears “blood red” when the eclipse reaches totality. Last night, totality began just before 11:30 p.m. ET and lasted more than an hour, until 12:53 a.m., according to NASA.
While only parts of the world were able to see the dazzling astronomical event, it was a sight to remember. Here’s what it looked like:
Toronto, Ontario
Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images
The earth moved across the sun’s path eclipsing the moon during the “super flower blood moon” eclipse as seen from Toronto.
New York City
Gary Hershorn / Getty Images
The total eclipsed “super flower blood moon” rises over lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center on May 15, 2022, in New York City.
San Salvador, El Salvador
Alex Pena/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
View of the Salvador del Mundo monument next to the moon during a “super flower blood moon” eclipse in San Salvador, El Salvador.
San Diego, California
MIKE BLAKE / REUTERS
A full moon moves through the shadow of the earth during a “super flower blood moon” lunar eclipse in San Diego, California.
Santiago, Chile
MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP via Getty Images
The “super flower blood moon” is seen during a total lunar eclipse in Santiago, on May 15, 2022.
Moscow, Idaho
Ted S. Warren / AP
The “super flower blood moon” is shown during a full lunar eclipse near Moscow, Idaho. The orange color of the moon is caused by the moon passing into the shadow of the Earth.
Los Angeles
Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP
This combination of photos shows the “super flower blood moon” in various stages of a total lunar eclipse during the first blood moon of the year in Temple City, California.
Mardin, Turkey
Emrah Gurel / AP
A “super flower blood moon” moon rises above the historical city center of Mardin, famous for its stone houses, in southeastern Turkey, early Monday.
