SKYGAZERS in parts of the UK lucky enough to be under clear skies were treated to the astronomical spectacle of a “super blood wolf moon”.

The rare phenomenon, caused in part by a lunar eclipse, makes the surface of the moon appear a reddish hue while seeming brighter and closer to earth than normal.

Catching a glimpse of the curiously-titled event was down to luck, as many parts of the country were covered by cloud on Monday morning.

Members of The Northern Echo Camera Club were fortunate though, with clear frosty skies showing off the moon to its full effected.

A super blood wolf moon occurs when a blood moon and supermoon happen simultaneously. The optimum viewing time from the UK was at 5.12am when the eclipse was at its peak.

Astronomers were particularly interested in this year’s blood moon as it was the last of its kind for two years. “We’re going into this unusual lull in total lunar eclipses over the next couple of years,” said Tom Kerss, an astronomer from the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

While the supermoon and blood moon titles come from the brightness and reddish hue respectively, a full moon in January is sometimes called a “wolf” moon.