Visitors and residents alike were poised throughout Grand Canyon National Park on Sunday, September 27, to witness twin astronomical events that haven’t coincided since 1982. The moon made its closest approach of the year to our planet, serving up a so-called “supermoon.”
The result was a moon larger-than-normal in appearance, and sporting a distinctly reddish hue. Shortly after moonrise, the show got even more interesting as the Earth’s shadow slowly obscured the moon providing a full lunar eclipse.
From every scenic overlook flashlight-wielding stargazers from around the world whispered a collective “oooh” and “aaaah” as the spectacle unfolded. It lasted just a few hours, but was surely a memorable experience for anyone who ventured out to celebrate the scene.
The supermoon and eclipse were visible from the United States, Europe, Africa, and western Asia and the pairing won’t be repeated until 2033… so mark your calendars!
