April 18, 2024

Don’t Miss the Total Lunar Eclipse: What You Need To Know

The Moon moves right to left, going through the penumbra and umbra, leaving in its wake an eclipse diagram with the times at various stages of the eclipse. Times are shown in Eastern Standard Time (EST). Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Scientific Visualization Studio
How can I observe the eclipse?
Although field glasses or a telescope will enhance the view and the red color, you do not require any unique equipment to observe a lunar eclipse. A dark environment away from brilliant lights makes for the finest viewing conditions.
Totality– the stage of the eclipse where the Moon is totally in Earths shadow– will be noticeable throughout North and Central America and in Ecuador, Colombia, and western portions of Venezuela and Peru. Audiences in Alaska and Hawaii will have the opportunity to see every phase of the eclipse.
This animated map shows where the November 8, 2022, lunar eclipse is noticeable. Contours mark the edge of the exposure region at eclipse contact times. The map is focused on 168 ° 57 W, the sublunar longitude at mid-eclipse. Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Scientific Visualization Studio
What if its cloudy or Im not in the viewing area?
Many organizations and individuals around the globe present live streams and videos of lunar eclipses. An online search will supply multiple choices for viewing from your computer system screen. You can likewise visit NASAs Dial-a-Moon for a visualization of the eclipse.
What can I expect to observe?

The look of the Moon during the November 2022 total lunar eclipse. All phases of a lunar eclipse are safe to view, both with your naked eye and an unfiltered telescope.
Whats unique about Novembers lunar eclipse?
The last total lunar eclipse for three years will happen throughout the morning hours of November 8, 2022. After this, the next total lunar eclipse will not happen till March 14, 2025. However, we will continue to see partial and penumbral lunar eclipses during that time.
A lunar eclipse takes place when the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up so that the Moon passes into Earths shadow. In an overall lunar eclipse, the whole Moon falls within the darkest part of Earths shadow, called the umbra. When the Moon is within the umbra, it will turn a reddish shade. Because of this phenomenon, lunar eclipses are in some cases called “Blood Moons.”

UTC
EST
.
PST.
Turning point. Whats Happening?

8:02.
3:02 a.m.
12:02 a.m.
Penumbral eclipse begins.
The Moon enters the Earths penumbra, the outer part of the shadow. The Moon starts to dim, however the result is quite subtle.

9:09.
4:09 a.m.
1:09 a.m.
Partial eclipse begins.
The Moon starts to get in Earths umbra and the partial eclipse begins. To the naked eye, as the Moon moves into the umbra, it looks like a bite is being taken out of the lunar disk. The part of the Moon inside the umbra will appear extremely dark.

10:17.
5:17 a.m.
2:17 a.m.
Totality starts.
The entire Moon is now in the Earths umbra. The Moon will turn a coppery-red.

11:42.
6:42 a.m.
3:42 a.m.
Totality ends.
As the Moon exits Earths umbra, the red color fades. If a bite is being taken out of the opposite side of the lunar disk as before, it will look as.

12:49.
— Moon has set.
4:49 a.m.
Partial eclipse ends.
The entire Moon is in Earths penumbra, however once again, the dimming is subtle.

13:50.
— Moon has set.
5:50 a.m.
Penumbral eclipse ends.
The eclipse is over.

What else can I see tonight?
The Moon will be in the constellation Aries. The world Uranus will have to do with 3 degrees (6 Moon widths) north of the Moon during totality. Generally it is a bit too dim to see with the naked eye, however binoculars and little telescopes expose it as a small, mint-green dot. Find more skywatching ideas here and here.
During a lunar eclipse, Earths atmosphere spreads sunlight. The blue light from the Sun spreads away, and longer-wavelength red, orange, and yellow light go through, turning our Moon red. Note: This image is not to scale. Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Scientific Visualization Studio.
Why does the Moon turn red throughout a lunar eclipse?
The Moon reddens throughout a lunar eclipse due to Rayleigh scattering, the very same phenomenon that makes our sky blue and our sunsets red. Light travels in waves, and different colors of light have various physical homes. Blue light has a much shorter wavelength and is scattered more quickly by particles in Earths atmosphere than red light, which has a longer wavelength.
Artists depiction of the Earth throughout a lunar eclipse from the surface area of the Moon. With the darkness of the eclipse, the stars come out.
Red light, on the other hand, takes a trip more straight through the atmosphere. The blue light from the Sun scatters away, and longer-wavelength red, orange, and yellow light pass through.
During a lunar eclipse, the Moon turns red since the only sunlight reaching the Moon travels through Earths atmosphere. The more dust or clouds in Earths environment throughout the eclipse, the redder the Moon will appear. If all the worlds daybreaks and sunsets are forecasted onto the Moon, its as.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up so that the Moon passes into Earths shadow. In an overall lunar eclipse, the entire Moon falls within the darkest part of Earths shadow, called the umbra. The Moon moves best to left, passing through the penumbra and umbra, leaving in its wake an eclipse diagram with the times at various stages of the eclipse. Artists representation of the Earth throughout a lunar eclipse from the surface area of the Moon. Throughout a lunar eclipse, the Moon turns red since the only sunlight reaching the Moon passes through Earths environment.