Anyone for a ‘super’ moonlight cruise Sunday?

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Sunday will be a good time to be out on the lake. That evening, September 27, skywatchers will witness a “supermoon eclipse” that occurs when the moon looks abnormally large and bright in Earth’s sky. It will be the first supermoon eclipse since 1982, and the last until 2033, according to www.space.com.

The moon will rise at 6:45 p.m. local time Sunday, and the eclipse will enter totality at 7:11 p.m.

The moon will appear to be large, a “supermoon,” because it’s in what’s called “lunar perigee,” meaning the moon will be at its closest point to the Earth during its orbit. This will coincide with the lunar eclipse when the Earth blocks the sun’s light from hitting the moon. Because of the reddish appearance, this is sometimes called a “blood” moon.

Looking to celebrate this event with serious skywatchers? The Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park will be hosting a free Star Party starting at 2 p.m. Sunday when telescopes will be in place. From 6:30 to 9:45 p.m., pianist Ray Ushikubo will be playing Beethoven sonatas as part of the L.A. Philharmonic’s “Immortal Beethoven” program. Visitors can peer through the telescopes on the observatory’s lawn or look up with the naked eye to see the total eclipse.