Super Blue Blood Moon Visible Tomorrow Morning In Houston

HOUSTON, TX — Late owls and early birds alike can see a rare celestial treat unlike any other in Houston early tomorrow morning. A once-in-a-lifetime lunar show will take place as there will be a super moon and blood moon combined with a blue moon — and all free for admission.

The moon will be big and red that morning, but not blue or even purple. The blood moon is caused by a lunar eclipse, which will be visible for almost 20 minutes in the Greater Houston area. The partial eclipse will begin at 5:48 a.m., but onlookers will have the best view of the blood moon between 6:51 and 7:09 a.m.

A blue moon happens about once in every 2.7 years, according to Space.com. The moon will also appear about 13 percent larger than usual, as is standard with other super moons Houstonians have witnessed of late.

In addition, the super moon notwithstanding, this will be the first blue moon lunar eclipse since 1866, one year after the American Civil War, according to EarthSky.org. The regular calendar month has one full moon.

What will be the most unique about Wednesday's lunar show, however, is that the moon will fall completely within Earth's shadow for around three minutes — rendering it red.

The best time to watch the full lunar eclipse will be between 6:51 and 7:09 a.m. So for those not rushing to work or sending the kids to school, grab a cup of coffee and find an elevated hill or balcony. The moon will be visible to the West-Northwest.

Send your blood moon pictures to scott.mcdonald@Patch.com to be featured in a possible upcoming photo gallery.

Photo by Aubrey Gemignani/NASA via Getty Images