Ordos under 'super blue blood moon' spell

The “super blood blue moon” hangs above Changtan village, the Juungar Banner in Ordos. [Photo by Zhao Xinlei]

Like those in many other parts of the world, the city of Ordos caught a glimpse of the super blue blood moon on Jan 31, thanks to a rare lunar trifecta that combined a blue moon, a super moon and a total eclipse.

Several pictures of the spectacular sight taken by local photographers in Ordos have gone viral online, receiving many positive comments.

The celestial phenomenon is the result of the Sun, Earth, and moon lining up perfectly for a lunar eclipse just as the moon reaches its closest orbit point to the Earth, making it appear "super" large.

It is the second full moon within the same month, a phenomenon called a "blue" moon which has nothing to do with its color.

The "blood" in the name comes from the reddish brown color the moon takes on when the Earth enters the sphere between the moon and the Sun, cutting off the light rays that usually brighten the lunar surface.

It is said that next "super blood blue moon" would only occur again in another 152 years.

Different stages of the “super blood blue moon” are captured by a local photographer in Ordos. [Photo by Zhao Xinlei]

The “super blood blue moon” is seen above the Shenhua Juungar Energy Co, which is located in the Juungar Banner, Ordos. [Photo by Zhao Gang]