The Moon is currently passing through Earth’s shadow, known as its umbra. While direct sunlight may be blocked out by this phenomenon, our atmosphere scatters red light that produces an amber-hued hue on its surface that gives off a coppery-red tinge to give a coppery-red radiance for our nearest neighboring body of water.
This will be the first of four total lunar eclipses to take place over several full Moons – known as a tetrad. No special equipment is necessary to witness it; binoculars and telescopes would provide even better viewing conditions.
Total Eclipse
As the Moon moves through Earth’s umbra (shadow), or shadow band, its surface will darken and turn reddish-orange, creating what we refer to as a total lunar eclipse – visible across North America, parts of South America, Polynesia, eastern Australia and northern Asia. It could last four minutes and 28 seconds.
The red color comes from sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere and bending just enough to reach the Moon, giving its surface an eerie, blood-red hue reminiscent of an evening full moon rising or setting. This effect is most evident on darker side of Moon but will still exist everywhere else on its surface, giving a spooky, blood-red tint similar to when one sees full moon rise or set at midnight.
At a total eclipse, it will be safe to remove your eclipse glasses and gaze directly onto the sun provided it does not become overly bright. As we all know, sunlight emits not only visible-wavelength illumination but also infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths which may cause permanent eye damage if gazed upon directly for too long.
If you want to observe a solar eclipse safely, use solar filters with your telescope or binoculars in order to protect yourself from ultraviolet and infrared rays from the Sun’s corona that may damage your eyes.
NASA offers live coverage of this eclipse from space with their eclipse broadcast, providing you with one last opportunity to witness a lunar eclipse before March 14, 2025.
The Moon is 400 times smaller than the Sun and close enough for total eclipses to cover it fully, though as time progresses it will become increasingly distant from us and no longer produce total lunar eclipses like this one – the next opportunity will likely occur around 2100! For more information about lunar eclipses visit NASA’s Eclipse webpage.
Partial Eclipse
An eclipse occurs when the Moon enters Earth’s dark shadow cone known as the umbra and passes directly through its dark center; when this happens, it appears as a bite has been taken out of its surface. But there can also be less dramatic penumbral eclipses occurring wherein light outer portions of its shadow cone make contact with lunar surface instead of being completely enclosed by darkness – although these effects aren’t readily identifiable to naked eyes, but astronomical instruments can differentiate between the two effects.
As soon as the Moon passes into Earth’s dark umbra, its appearance begins to turn reddish. This occurs because sunlight reaching it must travel through Earth’s atmosphere which scatters and refracted light differently depending on wavelength; shorter wavelengths scatter more readily than longer ones, giving rise to an overall redder hue reminiscent of sunrises and sunsets without atmospheric interference.
The Moon has now entered the umbra for several minutes and has begun to become darker and redder, reflecting back light for most of its time in it. At 5:33 am ET, over 95% of its surface will have passed into it before emerging out from it and brightening again.
As soon as the Moon enters its dark umbra, its reddish glow illuminates Earth and other planets, providing an incredible spectacle if conditions allow.
NASA satellites will also keep watch over this year’s eclipse, including Lucy mission, currently searching for Jupiter Trojan asteroids, will turn its attention toward the Moon during its penumbral phase to try to detect any reddish hue emanating from its surface.
NASA will make the images public via their website and release a video compilation of this event.
Super Blue Blood Moon
On Wednesday morning, it will be particularly breathtaking due to three lunar events happening simultaneously: supermoon, blue moon and total eclipse. Such rare occurrences last occurred back in 2015 – until 2037!
NASA defines a “supermoon” as any full moon that occurs while Earth and Moon are at their closest points in orbit, making it appear larger and brighter. Blue moons occur when there is two full Moons in one month while “blood moons” refers to lunar eclipses wherein Earth passes its dark shadow, known as its umbra, as seen through an eclipsed Moon and turns the surface reddish-hued.
These events combine to form the super blue blood moon. It will mark the first lunar triple whammy since 2015.
This year’s supermoon won’t be as spectacular as 2015’s, but sky watchers should still notice. It marks the closest approach of Earth to Moon for roughly 100 years.
As for the lunar eclipse, it will start at 5:51 a.m. EST and will last less than half an hour due to how quickly and quickly the Moon enters Earth’s outer shadow, then exits it shortly afterwards. To fully experience it all you must be in central North America or Alaska while viewers in western Europe, Africa or Asia should wait until after Moon sets before viewing it.
To properly witness a super blue blood moon eclipse, find an outdoor spot away from city lights with clearer skies, such as near nature or along an area riverbank. Keep an eye on local weather forecasts; clouds could potentially mar your experience! Alternatively, watch online with National Science Foundation’s livestream, or use apps such as iSky to gain a view.
What is a Blood Moon?
There has been considerable excitement surrounding this week’s lunar eclipse, but what exactly is a “blood moon”? Religious groups have popularized the term in order to refer to total lunar eclipses that occur during November; its association with divine punishment suggests an image of chaos coming down upon humanity; yet in actuality a blood moon needn’t be frightening; indeed it can make for quite an impressive display!
Astronomers use the term “blood moon” to refer to total lunar eclipses that take place when Earth’s shadow completely covers the Moon, meaning all three bodies line up exactly and it occurs only rarely. At such times, light reaching lunar surfaces through refracted atmosphere can cast its signature reddish hue onto it giving this phenomenon its unique hue.
Religionists have often used the term ‘blood moon’ to refer to four lunar eclipses that coincided with Jewish holidays in 2014 and 2015. This event, known as a tetrad, was predicted by Christian preachers John Hagee and Mark Biltz; although such events do happen occasionally they’re rare enough that there’s little chance this particular one was linked to any end-of-world prophecies.
This week’s eclipse won’t be visible from North America, but if you live in Africa or Asia it should provide an amazing viewing experience! No special equipment is necessary – although binoculars or telescopes might make the experience more rewarding. SLOOH Community Observatory will begin streaming the eclipse beginning at 5 a.m. ET with peak visibility coming at around 6 am ET.
This event marks both a lunar eclipse and supermoon, meaning that the Moon will reach its closest point in its orbit to Earth and thus appear larger and brighter in the sky than normal.