How to watch this week's total lunar eclipse and Blood Moon
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The last total lunar eclipse was Nov. 8, 2022. Photo: Lauren Owens Lambert/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Late Thursday night and early Friday brings the rare chance to see a total lunar eclipse and "Blood Moon."
Why it matters: This is the first total lunar eclipse since November 2022 and it's the only lunar eclipse visible from the U.S. this year.
- North America and South America are expected to get the best views of the eclipse but it will be visible around the globe in the Western Hemisphere.
- All of the phases of the eclipse are expected to last six hours.
What is a total lunar eclipse?
How it works: A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon align so the moon passes into Earth's shadow, according to NASA.
- Total lunar eclipses occur when the Moon passes into the dark shadow of the Earth.
What is a Blood Moon?
Lunar eclipses are sometimes called "Blood Moons" because the Moon will turn a reddish and copper hue, NASA said.
When is the total lunar eclipse Thursday and Friday?
The big picture: The hours for when the lunar eclipse will be visible vary by time zone, but the weekend's start of daylight saving time means the Sun rises later.
Why does the Moon appear red during total lunar eclipse?
Zoom in: The Moon appears red or orange because "any sunlight that's not blocked by our planet is filtered through a thick slice of Earth's atmosphere," NASA said.
- "It's as if all the world's sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon," NASA said.
What time does the total lunar eclipse start?
The initial phase of the eclipse, called the penumbral eclipse, begins at 11:57pm ET and 8:57pm PDT Thursday, NASA said in its timeline.
- The Moon begins to dim as it enters the Earth's penumbra, the outer part of the shadow.
The partial eclipse begins at 1:09am ET Friday, which is 10:09pm PT.
- NASA said as the Moon moves into the umbra that to the naked eye "it looks like a bite is being taken out of the lunar disk."
Totality begins at 2:26am ET Friday or 11:26pm PT Thursday.
- In totality, the Moon is "tinted a coppery red."
When does the lunar eclipse end?
State of play: Totality ends at 3:31am ET/12:31am PT.
- The partial eclipse ends when the Moon has set in 4:47am ET or 1:47am PT.
- The penumbral eclipse ends when the Moon has set in 6am ET or 3am PT.
Can you look at a lunar eclipse without glasses?
What we're watching: Unlike a solar eclipse where you need eclipse glasses to safely view it, special equipment isn't needed to observe a lunar eclipse.
- "Binoculars or a telescope will enhance the view," NASA said, noting a "dark environment away from bright lights makes for the best viewing conditions."
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