Photos: A super flower blood moon blossoms over Earth

An airplane flies past the full moon as it sets over Santa Monica on May 26.

A full moon, a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse occurred on the same day Wednesday — a rare lunar trifecta.

A "supermoon" is when a full moon is at its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. The May full moon is sometimes known as the "flower moon" in traditional folklore because it's typically at a time of year when spring flowers emerge.

And because lunar eclipses are sometimes called "blood moons" as the moon darkens and turns a dull red when it passes into Earth's shadow, Wednesday's skywatching event is being called a "super flower blood moon."

The big moon hangs near the Anitkabir, the mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in Ankara. 

The large burnt orange moon looms over Stonehenge. 

A nymph Brood X cicada makes its way up a tree in front of the full moon in Lutherville-Timonium.

A man leaves after fishing in the Missouri River as the moon rises over Kansas City. 

The moon at dawn in Brasilia.

People watch the lunar eclipse at Sanur beach in Bali.

The sizable moon with hints of orange and yellow sets behind the Montevideo port.

The total lunar eclipse is the first to occur with a supermoon in nearly six years, according to NASA.

The moon was at the closest point to Earth in its orbit, making it appear about 7% larger and 15% brighter than normal.

The moon rises over the Sydney Opera House.

The moon sets over Santa Monica.

The super flower blood moon rises over the Plaosan temple in Central Java.

The immense moon rises over the Makapuu lighthouse in east Oahu.

The moon rises through low clouds.

The vast moon shines behind the Christ the Redeemer statue.

Lunar eclipses occur when Earth moves between the sun and the moon, blocking sunlight from falling onto the lunar surface.

WATCH: Videos show rare lunar event known as 'super flower blood moon'