Dramatic photos from around the world show the 'super blood moon' large and red in the sky

Aria BendixMay 26, 2021, 23:02 IST

A total lunar eclipse seen in Auckland, New Zealand on May 26.Phil Walter/Getty Images

A "super blood moon" was visible in several parts of the world on Wednesday.
A total lunar eclipse coincided with a supermoon, so the moon appeared large and red in the sky.
Australia, New Zealand, and some Pacific islands had some of the best views.

A "super blood moon" appeared in the sky early on Wednesday, but only certain parts of the world caught a glimpse.

Thanks to a total lunar eclipse, the moon took on a reddish hue around 7:14 a.m. ET in parts of North America, South America, Asia, and Oceania.

The event coincided with a supermoon - a full moon that happens when the moon is at the closest point in its orbit to Earth. Hence the nickname "super blood moon." Wednesday's moon is also referred to as the "Flower Moon" because it appeared in May.

Here's what the lunar eclipse looked like around the world.

Australia and New Zealand, had some of the world's best views of the total lunar eclipse, which was visible for about 15 minutes (from 9:11 to 9:26 p.m. in Australia, or 7:11 to 7:26 a.m. ET).

People watch the "Super Blood Moon" rise over the Pacific Ocean at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on May 26. Steven Saphore/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Australia and New Zealand, had some of the world's best views of the total lunar eclipse, which was visible for about 15 minutes (from 9:11 to 9:26 p.m. in Australia, or 7:11 to 7:26 a.m. ET).

Countries in the Asian Pacific Rim, including China and Indonesia, saw the eclipse just after moonrise.

The moon above Hong Kong on May 26. Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images

Alaska and Hawaii had the best vantage points in the US, but most western states also had a decent view. Some people east of the Mississippi saw a partial lunar eclipse.

The moon as seen over Santa Monica, California, on May 26. Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

Alaska and Hawaii had the best vantage points in the US, but most western states also had a decent view. Some people east of the Mississippi saw a partial lunar eclipse.

Supermoons, which happen a few times a year at most, are the biggest and brightest full moons of the year: about 7% bigger and 15% brighter, on average, than a typical full moon.

A surfer is seen as the "Super Blood Moon" rises over the Pacific Ocean at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on May 26. Steven Saphore/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Supermoons, which happen a few times a year at most, are the biggest and brightest full moons of the year: about 7% bigger and 15% brighter, on average, than a typical full moon.

The moon reached its perigee - the closest point in its orbit to Earth - on Tuesday at 9:21 p.m. ET. At that point, it was around 222,000 miles from Earth. Usually, it's 240,000 miles away, on average.

The total lunar eclipse as seen in Sumedang, Indonesia on May 26. Algi Febri Sugita/NurPhoto/Getty Images

The moon reached its perigee - the closest point in its orbit to Earth - on Tuesday at 9:21 p.m. ET. At that point, it was around 222,000 miles from Earth. Usually, it's 240,000 miles away, on average.

Wednesday's full moon was the second supermoon of 2021 - the first was in April - and also this year's last.

A lunar eclipse is observed during dawn in Brasilia, Brazil on May 26. Eraldo Peres/AP Photo

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and sun are on opposite sides of the Earth, and the moon enters Earth's shadow. The only light the moon gets is filtered through Earth's atmosphere, which tends to scatter blue light. Hence the red hue.

The full moon as it transitions from penumbral lunar eclipse phase (top row left to right) to maximum lunar eclipse phase (bottom row) in Sydney, Australia on May 26. Steven Saphore/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and sun are on opposite sides of the Earth, and the moon enters Earth's shadow. The only light the moon gets is filtered through Earth's atmosphere, which tends to scatter blue light. Hence the red hue.

This was 2021's only total lunar eclipse. The last one took place on January 21, 2019. The next will be on May 16, 2022.

The full moon seen behind Stonehenge in England on May 26. Peter Cziborra/Reuters

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Dramatic photos from around the world show the 'super blood moon' large and red in the sky

Australia and New Zealand, had some of the world's best views of the total lunar eclipse, which was visible for about 15 minutes (from 9:11 to 9:26 p.m. in Australia, or 7:11 to 7:26 a.m. ET).

Countries in the Asian Pacific Rim, including China and Indonesia, saw the eclipse just after moonrise.

Alaska and Hawaii had the best vantage points in the US, but most western states also had a decent view. Some people east of the Mississippi saw a partial lunar eclipse.

Supermoons, which happen a few times a year at most, are the biggest and brightest full moons of the year: about 7% bigger and 15% brighter, on average, than a typical full moon.

The moon reached its perigee - the closest point in its orbit to Earth - on Tuesday at 9:21 p.m. ET. At that point, it was around 222,000 miles from Earth. Usually, it's 240,000 miles away, on average.

Wednesday's full moon was the second supermoon of 2021 - the first was in April - and also this year's last.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and sun are on opposite sides of the Earth, and the moon enters Earth's shadow. The only light the moon gets is filtered through Earth's atmosphere, which tends to scatter blue light. Hence the red hue.

This was 2021's only total lunar eclipse. The last one took place on January 21, 2019. The next will be on May 16, 2022.