First Blue Moon total eclipse in 150 years coming this month The New Year started with a supermoon, but stargazers will be over the moon later this month with a spectacle not seen since 1866.

Image: Wolf Moon pictured from Glasgow

Stargazers are in for an exciting treat this month with the first total eclipse of a Blue Moon in 150 years.

The spectacle, described by NASA as a "super blue blood moon", will occur on 31 January.

There has already been a Wolf Moon this month, which occurred on New Year's Day, when the moon appeared about 14% bigger and 30% brighter in the sky as it reached its closest point to Earth during orbit.

Described by NASA as "the most super of the three supermoons this winter", it was the first of the two full moons in January - and also "the biggest and brightest of 2018".

Image: Wolf Moon seen from North Yorkshire

The next sky-watching promises to be even more spectacular.


According to the US space agency, the second supermoon will be viewable "from western North America across the pacific to Eastern Asia".

Blue Moons happen every two-and-a-half years on average, but a total eclipse of a Blue Moon last happened in 1866.

A Blue Moon is the name given to the second full moon in a calendar month.

NASA says that because there are roughly 29.5 days between full moons, it is unusual for two full moons to "fit" into a 30 or 31 day month.

It is impossible for a Blue Moon to occur in a 28 or 29-day month, so February can never have a Blue Moon.