Late Thursday night into early Friday presents a unique opportunity to witness a total lunar eclipse and "Blood Moon."
Why it’s important: This marks the first total lunar eclipse since November 2022 and is the only one visible from the U.S. this year.
North and South America are anticipated to have the best vantage points for the eclipse, although it will be visible across the globe in the Western Hemisphere. The entire eclipse will unfold over a span of six hours.
What is a total lunar eclipse?
How it works: A lunar eclipse happens when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align, causing the Moon to move into Earth's shadow, as explained by NASA.
A total lunar eclipse specifically occurs when the Moon enters the Earth's darkest shadow.
What is a Blood Moon?
Lunar eclipses are often referred to as "Blood Moons" because the Moon takes on a reddish and copper color, according to NASA.
When will the total lunar eclipse occur on Thursday and Friday?
The details: The times for visibility of the lunar eclipse vary by time zone, but with the start of daylight saving time this weekend, the Sun will rise later.
Why does the Moon turn red during a total lunar eclipse?
The explanation: The Moon appears red or orange because "any sunlight that isn’t blocked by our planet is filtered through a thick layer of Earth's atmosphere," according to NASA.
"It's like having all the world's sunrises and sunsets projected onto the Moon," NASA added.
What time does the total lunar eclipse start?
According to NASA's timeline, the first phase of the eclipse, known as the penumbral eclipse, begins at 11:57 PM ET and 8:57 PM PDT on Thursday.
During this phase, the Moon starts to dim as it enters Earth's penumbra, the outer part of the shadow. The partial eclipse begins at 1:09 AM ET on Friday, which is 10:09 PM PT on Thursday.
NASA notes that as the Moon moves into the umbra, it will appear as if "a bite is being taken out of the lunar disk" to the naked eye. Totality starts at 2:26 AM ET on Friday, or 11:26 PM PT on Thursday.
During totality, the Moon takes on a "coppery red" hue.
When does the lunar eclipse end?
Here’s the summary: Totality concludes at 3:31 AM ET / 12:31 AM PT.
The partial eclipse wraps up when the Moon sets at 4:47 AM ET or 1:47 AM PT. The penumbral eclipse comes to an end when the Moon sets at 6:00 AM ET or 3:00 AM PT.
Can you view a lunar eclipse without glasses?
What to know: Unlike a solar eclipse, which requires eclipse glasses for safe viewing, you don’t need any special equipment to watch a lunar eclipse.
NASA advises that using binoculars or a telescope can enhance the experience, and suggests finding a dark area away from bright lights for optimal viewing conditions.
No comments:
Post a Comment