Moon Phase Chart

The Jan. 31 full moon is special for three reasons: the first being it’s the third in a series of “supermoons,” when the Moon is closer to Earth in its orbit -- known as perigee -- and about 14 percent brighter than usual. The second reason being is It’s also the second full moon of the month, this happens only every two and a half years, hence the saying “once in a blue moon” The super blue moon will pass through Earth’s shadow to give viewers in the right location a total lunar eclipse. While the Moon is in the Earth’s shadow it will take on a reddish tint, known as a “blood moon.” So this moon will be call a ‘Super Blue Blood Moon’

For the (continental) U.S., the viewing will be best in the West, but for viewers in Florida the Moon will enter the outer part of Earth’s shadow around 5:51 a.m., but it won’t be all that noticeable. The darker part of Earth’s shadow will begin to blanket part of the Moon with a reddish tint at 6:48 a.m. EST, but the Moon will set less than a half-hour later. “So your best opportunity if you live in the East is to head outside about 6:45 a.m. and get to a high place to watch the start of the eclipse—make sure you have a clear line of sight to the horizon in the west-northwest, opposite from where the Sun will rise,”

If you miss the Jan. 31 lunar eclipse, you’ll have to wait almost another year for the next opportunity in North America. Johnston said the Jan. 21, 2019 lunar eclipse will be visible throughout all of the U.S. and will be a supermoon, though it won’t be a blue moon.

So rare is a Super Blue Blood Moon that the phenomenon has not occurred for more than 150 years since March 31, 1866.

Will this be the big kick off to the shrimping season this year, or will the wait continue? We’ll have to wait and see and only shrimping reports will tell.