By Adithi Ramakrishnan
NEW YORK (AP) — Prepare to be enchanted by the celestial wonder of a blood-red moon, as a total lunar eclipse is set to take place. This awe-inspiring event will be the last of its kind until late 2028, making it a must-see for sky gazers.
The eclipse will unfold in the early hours of Tuesday morning for those in North America, Central America, and the western regions of South America. As night falls, the spectacle will shift to Australia and eastern Asia. During this time, viewers in Central Asia and much of South America will witness partial stages of the eclipse, where it will appear as though small bites have been taken out of the moon. Unfortunately, those in Africa and Europe will miss out on this celestial display.
These extraordinary phenomena occur when the sun, moon, and Earth align perfectly. NASA notes that between four and seven solar and lunar eclipses happen each year, with one often following shortly after the other. This upcoming lunar eclipse trails just two weeks behind a mesmerizing ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse that captivated audiences, including penguins, in Antarctica.
In a total lunar eclipse, the Earth positions itself directly between the sun and the full moon, casting its shadow over the moon. The reddish hue of the aptly named blood moon is a result of sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere, painting the lunar surface in shades of red.
During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth is between the sun and full moon, casting a shadow that covers the moon. The so-called blood moon looks red because of stray bits of sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere.
The show unfolds over several hours, with totality lasting about an hour.
Compared to a solar eclipse, “the lunar eclipse is a little more of a relaxed pace,” said Catherine Miller at Middlebury College’s Mittelman Observatory.
For those in the path, there’s no need for any special equipment to observe — just a clear, cloudless view of the sky.
Use a forecasting app or any online celestial calendar to look up the exact timing for your area. Venture outside a few times to see Earth’s shadow darken the moon, eventually revealing the reddish-orange orb.
“You don’t have to be out there the whole time to see the shadows moving,” said astronomer Bennett Maruca with the University of Delaware.
There’s a partial lunar eclipse on the docket for August, visible across the Americas, Europe, Africa and west Asia.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
