Skywatchers are preparing for a rare celestial event that should adorn the night sky in the United States, Canada and Mexico. A total lunar eclipse will throw a shadow on the moon, transforming it into a frightening red color overnight. Here’s how you can watch it go.
The total lunar eclipse will take place on the night of Thursday March 13 and early on Friday, March 14, according to the time zone. The eclipse should start at 11:57 p.m. Thursday and lasts about 6 hours while the moon slowly leaves the shadow of the earth. Unlike the solar eclipse, you will not need special equipment to see the moon during the eclipse. All you have to do is look up.
What is a total lunar eclipse?
Lunar eclipses take place when the earth is positioned between the sun and the moon, throwing its shadow on the surface of our natural satellite. Lunar eclipses occur around twice a year, but total lunar eclipses are rarer.
During a total lunar eclipse, while the earth is hidden between the sun and the moon, the whole moon falls into the darkest part of the shadow of the earth, known as Umbra. When the moon is draped under the Umbra, it becomes a reddish color, hence the term blood moon.
Here is how it works: while the earth blocks most of the sunlight, the light which ends up reaching the surface of the moon goes through the atmosphere of the earth. As it does, shorter wavelengths of light, like blue, disperse more easily, while longer wavelengths, like red, end up reaching the surface of the moon. The more dust or clouds in the atmosphere of the earth during the eclipse, the more the moon is red, according to Nasa.
Each side of the earth can see a total lunar eclipse approximately once every two years. The last total lunar eclipse seen by the United States took place in November 2022.
How to see the total lunar eclipse
The next total lunar eclipse will be visible from the western hemisphere of the earth. The moon will be there – the fact Weather – so there is no need for special equipment to see the eclipse. For better visualization conditions, you can go to a slightly lit area to really take it.
From 11:57 p.m. Thursday, the moon will start to decrease when it enters the outer part of the shadow of the earth, known as the darkness, according to Nasa. A little more than an hour later, a partial eclipse will begin to take shape while the moon moves deeper into the Umbra.
The whole will start at 2:26 a.m. and last up to 3 h 31 HE. It is at this moment that the moon is completely covered by the shadow of the earth and will appear in copper red. After all, the moon will slowly start to leave the shadows and return to its regular self around 6 a.m.
As a bonus, the surrounding constellations can be easier to spot while the moon light is attenuated by the eclipse.
