This Thursday (13), stargazers will have a celestial delight. A total lunar eclipse — also known as the “blood moon” — will be visible in the U.S. for the first time since 2022.
What you need to know about the lunar eclipse and how to observe it.
What happens during a total lunar eclipse?
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon align approximately, with Earth in the middle. During the total eclipse, the moon will be positioned within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra.
The moon will appear with a reddish copper color because “any sunlight that is not blocked by our planet is filtered through a thick slice of Earth’s atmosphere,” explains NASA.
If rain is forecasted for the area, you may see a rare lunar rainbow, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
How can you see the total lunar eclipse?
The total lunar eclipse can only be seen from the western hemisphere of Earth, so it will be visible in all U.S. states. Depending on your time zone, observers will be able to see it on Thursday night or Friday morning.
The eclipse will reach totality when the full moon moves into the darkest part of Earth’s shadow.
Below are the key time zones in North America when the moon will reach totality and remain there for about 65 minutes, according to Space.com.
Hawaii: 8:26 p.m. HST on Thursday
Alaska: 10:26 p.m. AKDT on Thursday
Pacific: 11:26 p.m. PDT on Thursday
Mountain Time: 12:26 a.m. MDT on Friday
Central Time: 1:26 a.m. CDT on Friday
Eastern Time: 2:26 a.m. EDT on Friday
“You don’t need any special equipment to observe a lunar eclipse, although binoculars or a telescope will enhance the view,” says NASA. “A dark environment, away from bright lights, provides the best viewing conditions.”
Source: Yahoo News