Breathtaking ‘blood moon’ lunar eclipse will be visible in US and Canada next week. Here’s how to see it
The blood moon is coming.
The fascinating astronomical event will be viewable in much of North America on August 27 and 28.
The blood moon is actually a lunar eclipse during which the Moon will turn red as the Earth passes between the Moon and the Sun.
On August 27, a deep lunar eclipse will occur over North America. While it won’t be a total lunar eclipse, it will get close; approximately 96 percent of the Moon’s surface will disappear behind the Earth’s shadow, according to BBC’s Sky at Night Magazine.
The light that does hit the Moon will give its surface a coppery red or dark orange color. This is because the Earth’s atmosphere scatters blue wavelengths of light. Only reddish light actually reaches the Moon’s surface, hence the color.
The maximum eclipse — when the Moon is most covered — will occur on Friday, August 28 around 12:12 am Eastern Time, according to USA TODAY.
The full eclipse will be viewable in the eastern half of North America and throughout all of South America. Western North America, Africa, and Europe will be able to see a partial eclipse, according to NASA.
Anyone hoping to see the lunar eclipse should make sure they can access an area with dark skies on the night of the event, as light pollution from populated areas will make seeing the eclipse more difficult.
It’s also a good idea to reach a viewing area at least a half an hour before the eclipse begins, as it takes the human eye approximately 20 to 30 minutes to fully adjust to the dark.
Those who do travel to a dark area to see the eclipse should do their best to refrain from looking at bright phone screens or other bright lights as it will prevent their eyes from adjusting to the dark.
Before going, Moon gazers should check the local weather to ensure conditions will be amenable to actually seeing the eclipse. Heavy cloud cover will obscure the show.
The lunar eclipse is expected to begin around 9:24 p.m. but the chance in color will be perceptible beginning around 11:20 p.m. until around just after 1 a.m.
