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Rare Treat For Skywatchers -- A Supermoon Lunar Eclipse

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - Skywatchers are in for a rare double-feature -- a total lunar eclipse and a super moon on the same night.

You won't need a telescope to see this show. It will all be visible to the naked eye.

Supermoon
(GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images)

First, at about 6 p.m. PDT, Sunday, September 27, the moon will be at its closest point in its orbit around the Earth. It will look bigger, brighter and fuller than usual. Scientists call it a perigee full moon, but the phenomenon is commonly called a supermoon.

That's not all. Moments later, the earth will begin to slide between the sun and the supermoon, and eventually cast a complete shadow.

The total lunar eclipse begins at 7:11 p.m., and ends at 8:23 p.m. PDT.

There's another supermoon on October 27, but the next time a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse occur on the same night is in 2033... so don't miss this one.


CBSSF.com writer, producer Jan Mabry is also executive producer and host of The Bronze Report. She lives in Northern California. Follow her on Twitter @janmabr.

 

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