VIDEO: Blood red 'supermoon' appears over Ireland

A blood red 'supermoon' has appeared in the skies above Ireland for the first time in more than 30 years.

A total lunar eclipse combined with a so-called supermoon made the moon appear brighter, closer and rusty red in colour.

The combination has not been seen since 1982, and will not happen again for another 18 years.

The spectacle began to unfold from 1.10am in Ireland, with the “total” phase - when the moon is completely in shadow – lasting from 3.11am to 4.24am. It was to go on until the moon emerged from the Earth’s shadow at 6.24am.

Sequence from Start to Totality of Lunar Eclipse from Waterford Ireland #EclipseLunar #bloodmooneclipse #photography pic.twitter.com/GDys1yaIVe

— Leah Burgess 📷 (@LeahBurgessIr) September 28, 2015

When the moon is at perigee, its shortest distance from the Earth, it is 226,000 miles away and appears 14% larger and 30% brighter than when it is at its furthermost point.

During a lunar eclipse, the moon turns a deep rusty red, due to sunlight being scattered by the Earth’s atmosphere.

@NASAGoddardPix @Flickr Mega Harvest #Moon #Eclipse from #Limerick, IRELAND by: #krisoft.eu #SuperBloodMoon pic.twitter.com/KgEZQK7TKm

— Krzysztof Luszczki (@krisoft79) September 28, 2015

Unlike with a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to observe through binoculars or a small telescope.

My last two photos of the #LunarEclipse from Longford, #Ireland #SuperBloodMoon #Eclipse #Eclipse2015 #EclipseLunar pic.twitter.com/erzaRAsewJ

— DB Cooper (@d3301rl) September 28, 2015

Many believe this eclipse was significant as it marks the completion of an unusual line-up of four total eclipses at six-monthly intervals known as a “tetrad”.

Texan pastor and author John Hagee says this has only happened three times in the past 500 years and claimed it is likely to herald a “hugely significant” world event.

Lunar eclipse as viewed from Coolbawn, Tipperary, Ireland just now pic.twitter.com/LpYjBqESLl

— Coolbawn Cross (@coolbawncross) September 28, 2015

Lunar eclipse in Ireland 11.00pm/3.15am.Too much fake tan love, you can see tide marks #LunarEclipse #SuperBloodMoon pic.twitter.com/lNBoMJGqIQ

— lemonsqueezy (@LemonsqueezyLou) September 28, 2015

Moon eclipse over Ireland 3.30am monday pic.twitter.com/jCnxrdiSul

— finbarr coakley (@finny_07) September 28, 2015