While the phenomena of lunar eclipses, supermoons and blue moons are not rare events themselves, they do not often occur simultaneously.
On Wednesday many residents in Finland and most of the rest of the world have a chance to see a very special event in the skies; a lunar eclipse, a large supermoon and a blue moon, all at the same time.
In Finland it will be sky watchers in the far north of the country that may be able to see the unusual states of the moon — if the weather is agreeable.
The best locations for viewing the full lunar eclipse in Finland will be in the far northern municipalities of Inari and Utsjoki between the hours of 2:52 pm until 4:08 pm on Wednesday.
Kokkola-Lappeenranta line
Areas in Finland south of northern Lapland will not see the moon fully eclipsed, but partial views of the eclipse will be visible in areas northeast of areas between the towns of Kokkola (on the west coast) and Lappeenranta (on Finland's south-eastern border), according to Finnish space publication Tähdet ja Avaruus.
The magazine reports that since January is statistically the cloudiest month of the year, the lunar event may be difficult to see regardless of location.
Even if skies are clear on Wednesday, eager moon peepers in southern Finland will not be able to see the total eclipse because the moon will have risen above the horizon after it takes place, but the moon will be partially obscured.
A supermoon happens when a full or new moon is the closest to earth in its elliptical orbit, and appears larger than normal. A blue moon takes place when there is more than one full moon within a single month.
A lunar eclipse is when the moon passes behind the earth's shadow. A totally eclipsed moon is sometimes called a blood moon due to the red colouration it gets during the event.