“I guess it stuck”Kelly Beatty
The rare phenomenon is due to light up skies this morning, after not being seen for 150 years.
But those looking for a blue moon may be left disappointed when it turns red.
The lunar event is actually a naming convention for the second full moon of the month, and nothing to do with its colour.
Sky and Telescope senior editor Kelly Beatty explained how the name first came about.
He told Inverse: “Imagine an astronomical season. Say from a solstice to an equinox, every once in a while we get four full moons in that three month season and traditionally the third of those was referred to as “the blue moon”.
He added: “We misinterpreted that traditional definition and started calling a blue moon the second full moon in a month and I guess it stuck.
“Whatever definition you use, these things happen around every 2.7 years, on average.”
Space agency NASA have stated that the last super blue blood moon was seen way back in 1866.
Brits hoping to see the rare event will be left disappointed, however, as the full lunar eclipse will only be viable on the Earth’s night side and in the western hemisphere.
UK stargazers will still be able to see the super blue moon.