See the moon turn blood red in a total lunar eclipse this week
A celestial spectacle is set to grace the sky on Tuesday: a total lunar eclipse will make the Moon appear blood red to millions of skywatchers around the world.
Eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon and Earth align in a precise manner. In this case, Earth will be positioned directly between the sun and the full moon, casting a shadow on our natural satellite. As Earth blocks some of the sun’s light, stray rays will pass around and through our atmosphere, turning the moon’s typically pearly surface red.
The lunar eclipse will be visible across America early on the morning of March 3, as well as to observers in Australia and East Asia on Tuesday evening. The moment of totality, when the Earth completely covers the Moon in its shadow, will begin at 6:04 a.m. EST and end at 7:03 a.m. EST. Unfortunately for Moon enthusiasts in Africa and Europe, the spectacle will not be visible there.
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Tuesday’s eclipse follows a “ring of fire” solar eclipse that occurred on February 17, although only viewers in Antarctica saw it in all its glory. During this event, the Moon passed between Earth and the Sun, covering our star so that only a halo of light remained visible.
This upcoming eclipse is especially special because it will be the last total lunar eclipse until December 2028. Skywatchers hoping to catch a glimpse of Tuesday’s event won’t need any special equipment to view the eclipse. All they have to do is hope for a cloudless night, go out when it gets dark and look up.
For viewers in the United States, the fun will begin around 3:45 a.m. EST and last until 9:23 a.m. EST, although on the East Coast the moon will set well before the eclipse ends. It will be worth going out a few times during the eclipse: as the event progresses, Earth’s shadow will creep across the moon, giving it a darker red hue as it aligns before the color disappears again as the planet moves forward.
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