Super Flower Blood Moon May 15, 2022

May 17, 2022

Lunar eclipses, the phenomenon that causes the red 'blood moon' coloring, happen about three times a year on average, but do not always line up with the full moon in spring. Supermoons are based on the undulating orbit of the moon in relation to the earth, and happen at a rate that appears almost entirely random. The last one was in May 2021.

"Blood Moon," this happens because the sunlight shining directly onto Earth passes through the atmosphere and is projected onto the moon -- giving it a red tone during the eclipse. "This same effect is what gives sunrises and sunsets a reddish-orange color," NASA explains.

This eclipse took place during the so-called Flower Moon, the May full moon, named as it coincides with the spring blooming season in America. It was also a supermoon, making this the Super Flower Blood Moon.

This photo was captured via iPhone and telescope 11:13pm Paris, Mo by Melissa Kennison.