The ‘Super Blue Blood Moon’ is Coming This Week

They're saying it's a once in a lifetime event.

International Business Times is saying that the Super Blue Blood Moon will be seen January 31 across the Norther Hemisphere.

Now, a name like Super Blue Blood Moon may sound a little dramatic, and maybe ridiculous, but scientists are saying it's so rare that it only happens once every one hundred and fifty years.

So why the lengthy name? Well, there are three different factors coming together that will bring this rare event to Earth. First the Moon will be a little closer to Earth than usual in it's orbit, giving us the "Super moon" part. Super moons aren't that rare. In fact, we just had one this very month, back on January 1. Now two super moons in the same month are rare, hence the "blue" moon. Sorry, the Moon won't actually be blue.

The blood part comes from the fact that there will be a lunar eclipse that night as the Moon, Earth, and Sun will be in perfect alignment. Once the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow, sunlight through our atmosphere is bent giving the Moon it's blood red color. 

The best time to see this event will be in the pre-dawn hours January 31. Of course, another big factor is going to be weather. Forecasts right now are calling for partly cloudy skies across the Hudson Valley Tuesday night and into ealry Wednesday, so hopefully there will be good viewing conditions.