KTLA

Supermoon Lunar Eclipse Prompts Excitement Among Skywatchers

GLASTONBURY, UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 27: The supermoon rises behind Glastonbury Tor on September 28, 2015 in Somerset, England. Tonight's supermoon - so called because it is the closet full moon to the Earth this year - is particularly rare as it coincides with a lunar eclipse, a combination that has not happened since 1982 and won't happen again until 2033. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

[protected-iframe id=”a2fdd366a4b50b685b4b3409fe97bf17-41641936-52137988″ info=”http://livestream.com/accounts/813119/events/4334837/player?width=560&height=315&autoPlay=true&mute=false” width=”560″ height=”315″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”]

Southern California residents should have great seats for the rare “supermoon” lunar eclipse Sunday evening and the Griffith Observatory is offering a free public viewing that is expected to attract hundreds of skywatchers.

But be prepared to come early and walk a long distance from parking, warned observatory officials. The nearby Greek Theatre is holding a concert (the Catch a Fire tour celebrates what would have been Bob Marley’s 70th birthday year) and vehicle and foot traffic is expected to be extremely heavy around the venues.

Those heading to the observatory are also asked not to bring personal telescopes or lawn chairs. A supply of lawn telescopes and binoculars will be provided and the eclipse should be easily viewed with the naked eye, officials said.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth’s shadow falls on the moon as it moves between the moon and the sun. The coppery reddish color of the lunar face has given rise to its description as a “blood moon.”

Click here to here read the full story on LATimes.com.

34.118434-118.300393