On April 15th a phenomenon that usually only happens several times a year is occurring. A total lunar eclipse will be visible in most of North America. If you are planning to watch this spectacular view of the moon there are some things that you should know.
What Is It
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow. The reddish hue that is cast on the moon is actually sunlight that is refracted through the Earth’s atmosphere.
What You’ll See
The interesting thing about a total lunar eclipse is the moon looks red, almost maroon. Because of the color, it’s often referred to as a blood moon. For those that aren’t aware of what is going on, the moon can look a little bit creepy. Mars is also the brightest that it’s been in six years and will be very easy to spot during the eclipse with the moon being darker.
When To Watch It
The total lunar eclipse will be happening during the wee hours of the morning on April 15th. It will start at 1:20 a.m. The moon will not be totally red until about 3:07 a.m. and should last until about 4:25 a.m. Parts of the moon may remain red until about 5:30 a.m.
Other Lunar Eclipse Facts
- There are three types of eclipses that occur including partial, prenumbral and total.
- Unlike with a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is totally safe to look at directly because the moon is not actually giving off any light.
- The most lunar eclipses that occur throughout the year is usually three and there is usually a solar eclipse that occurs between each one.
- In general, more people are able to view a lunar eclipse versus a solar eclipse because lunar eclipses are visible in more parts of the world.
- The world eclipse means downfall in Greek.
- During ancient times when a lunar eclipse occurred, individuals thought that the gods were angry at them.
- Lunar eclipses last for no longer than 3 hours and 45 minutes.
- A total lunar eclipse can only occur during a full moon.
Don’t worry if you miss this one because another total lunar eclipse will be happening on October 8th. If you are a night owl or just want to catch a really cool glimpse of the moon, set your alarm clock and lay out on your lawn with a blanket. It’s definitely one show that you won’t regret missing out on a little bit of sleep to see.
