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'Super Moon' eclipse to occur this Sunday for first time since 1982

September 25, 2015
<p>A total lunar eclipse or "blood moon" is photographed in the early morning hours on April 15, 2014 in Kansas City, Mo. This was the first of a lunar eclipse tetrad, which is a series of four total eclipses. The next three lunar eclipses will occur on Oct. 8; April 4, 2015; and Sept. 28, 2015.</p>

A total lunar eclipse or "blood moon" is photographed in the early morning hours on April 15, 2014 in Kansas City, Mo. This was the first of a lunar eclipse tetrad, which is a series of four total eclipses. The next three lunar eclipses will occur on Oct. 8; April 4, 2015; and Sept. 28, 2015.

Photo by John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/MCT | The State News

On Sunday, Sept. 27 the world will be able to observe a rare version of the moon which has not been seen since 1982. Three things will make the moon look spectacular — it will be at its fullest, it will be at the point of its orbit which is closest to Earth and it will be during a lunar eclipse. This rare phenomenon has been dubbed the “Super Moon." 

The reason why it has been dubbed the Super Moon is because the moon will appear to be 14 percent larger, 30 percent brighter, and completely red.

MSU students have taken to Facebook to give everyone a place to observe Sunday’s Super Moon eclipse. Kinesiology senior Marie Dohm has organized a watch event at MSU’s Disc Golf Course starting at 9:45 p.m. until 11:45 p.m., on Sunday

"We are definitely going to make the most of it and try to watch it where there's not as much light pollution," Dohm said.  

Space.com offers observers a chart for the different phases the moon will be at during its eclipse, and the corresponding times for each time zone. East Lansing residents will be able to see the beginning of the total eclipse at 10:11 p.m., the middle at 10:47 p.m., and the end at 11:23 p.m. 

This rare celestial event has only occurred five times since 1910 with the next one taking place this Sunday, according to space.com. 

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