On Sunday night, a spectacular full moon will be visible in the night sky. A lunar eclipse makes it a supermoon and a blood moon.
Last year’s total lunar eclipse took place on May 26, 2021. Millions of skywatchers from Africa, Europe, and the Americas will be able, if the weather permits, to see the total lunar eclipse the night of May 15-16.
NASA says a blood moon is when the Earth is placed between the moon’s rays and the sun.
Totality will give the moon a reddish glow due to the red wavelengths of the sun shining through the atmosphere. It could appear different shades of brown, yellow, or orange depending on the moment.
The space agency explained that this is the case and the only way light reaches the moon’s surface comes from the Earth’s atmosphere edges. “The blue light is scattered by the Earth’s atmosphere air molecules. The moon’s surface is reflected with the remaining light, giving it a red glow that makes it appear red in the night sky.
The supermoon this month is also the full moon. It appears slightly bigger and brighter because it is located at the closest point to Earth, called the perigee.
It is also known as the flower moon. This name was given to May’s full Moon due to the abundance and beauty of spring flowers in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also known as the corn planting moon or the milk moon.
A lunar eclipse can be viewed with your naked eye, unlike a solar eclipse which may cause eye damage. However, binoculars and a telescope are recommended to enhance the experience.
At 10:30 p.m., the visible portion of the eclipse will occur. ET will occur on May 15, NASA states, when the moon enters Earth’s shadow. Totality is when the moon’s shadow covers it completely and lasts approximately an hour and a quarter.
It will end at 2 a.m. ET.
NASA states that viewers in the Eastern U.S. will witness the eclipse with the moon high above the horizon. Those in the middle of the country will experience it beginning about an hour after the sun sets. The West Coast will see the eclipse begin when totality has already begun. Therefore, it will be best to view the southeast.
East Coast viewers will be able see the event from high up in the sky. West Coast viewers should however look for a clear spot to view it. Timeanddate says that this will be the longest total lunar eclipse in prime time on the West Coast this century.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have the best view. NASA will live stream the event, showing views from all over the globe and answering questions about the phenomenon.
