Super blue blood moon: How to watch in Southern California
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Sky-gazers are in for a rare lunar trifecta Wednesday! Here's how you can view the "super blue blood moon" from Southern California.
The event is a combination of three different phenomena: a supermoon, a blue moon and a blood moon.
PHOTOS: Super blue blood moon dazzles SoCal sky-gazers
Here's why it's special:
One -- the moon is closer to Earth in its orbit, and 14 percent brighter than usual. Two -- it's the second full moon of the month known as a blue moon. Three -- it'll pass through Earth's shadow for a total lunar eclipse. When that happens, it will take on a reddish tint, known as a "blood moon."
Here's how to watch:
You'll be able to see the "super blue blood moon" before sunrise Wednesday. It will enter the "umbral" stage at 3:48 a.m. and reach totality at 4:52 a.m. -- that is when you can observe a complete eclipse of the moon. The moon will remain in totality for a little more than an hour and at 6:08 a.m. it will begin to emerge from the Earth's shadow.
If the weather is clear, you should get a good view. NASA says the best viewing areas are in Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Alaska and the West Coast of the United States.
MORE: Get the SoCal forecast for Wednesday's super blue blood moon
The Griffith Observatory, which opens early at 3:30 a.m., will put 14 telescopes on the lawn for everyone to use.
