The night sky had it all this month. January’s lunar luck didn’t run out; in fact, it continues though the very last day of the month. Call it the super blue eclipse full moon.

It started on the first of the month, when we had a full supermoon. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit, which is an ellipse, is at its closest point to the earth during the full moon.

The closest point of orbit is called its perigee. During perigee, the moon is approximately 221,559 miles from the earth, while the usual distance is 238,855 miles. This reduction in distance can make the moon appear larger because it is a bit closer. Many folks won’t be able discern the difference, though the moon’s appearance is about 11 per cent larger than usual.

This first full moon of January is known as the wolf moon because it is recognized as the time to hear howling wolves. Other cultures refer to it as the ice moon, snow moon, old moon and moon after Yule.

Next comes a blue moon. A blue moon happens when two full moons occur in the same month. The moon cycle of 29.53 days allows for this to happen periodically since most of our months have 31 days. They occur once every 2.7 years on average.

The year 2018 will host two blue moons, the next being in March after a moonless February. This is true only for those in our time zone; consider that residents of Asia and Australia won’t have a blue moon this month due to time zone effects that put their full moon in February.

Jan. 31 will close out the magic moon month with a lunar eclipse during the second full moon of the month (which is also a supermoon). You have to be early to catch it, as it will begin at 5:51 a.m. and only be visible for about 16 minutes before the moon sets behind the western horizon. When the moon passes through the central region of the shadow of the earth, a lunar eclipse results and this is what will occur on the blue-supermoon-eclipse of the 31st.

Additionally, for some, it will also be a blood moon. Blood moons are so-called for their red appearance. East Coasters will not see red, while those in the western United States, Hawaii, and Asia might enjoy a crimson moon. The color red results from the atmospheric scattering of the blue light and the refraction of the red light in the color spectrum.

This month of many-named moons likely has many of us waxing nostalgic as the month wanes. There are the lovers of the moon, and of course, a lot of lunacy if you believe the full moon brings out the lunatic in us all.

No matter: this month it is certainly true, as English writer and comedian Arthur Smith suggests: “The moon puts on an elegant show, different every time in shape, colour and nuance.”

Suzan Bellincampi is director of the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary in Edgartown, and author of Martha’s Vineyard: A Field Guide to Island Nature.