Up in the air, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s an eclipse
You are in for a celestial treat if you are up late Sunday night. That’s because a total lunar eclipse begins Sunday and stretches into early Monday morning.
This one, according to space.com, is a so-called “super flower blood moon.” It’s a mouthful but astronomers say the title reflects several attributes for Sunday’s night sky show.
First, the “super” means the moon is at its closest approach to the earth and will appear 30% brighter and 14% larger than normal. It’s a “flower” moon because it occurs during spring in the northern hemisphere, and it’s a “blood” moon because while the earth blocks direct sunlight and casts a shadow on the lunar surface some light is scattered and bent by the earth’s atmosphere.
Because longer light waves look red, the moon’s surface will appear red, according to space.com.
In southeast Michigan, the eclipse begins at 11:29 p.m. Sunday and reaches its peak at 12:11 a.m. Monday. In addition to North America, the eclipse can be seen across all of South America, Central and Western Europe, and much of Africa giving it a potential audience of 2.7 billion people, according to space.com.
“You look up at something like that and you really feel a connection to our pre-astrological ancestors,” Diane Hall, president of the Warren Astronomical Society.
The Cranbrook Observatory will be open during the eclipse and members of the astronomical society will have additional telescopes available outside, both weather permitting. It will be the first astrological event at the planetarium in three years due to COVID restrictions.
“Anytime there is something special in the sky we will host an event,” said Mike Narlock, head of Astronomy at the Cranbrook Institute of Science.
Unlike a solar eclipse, which involves taking special viewing precautions to prevent eye damage, a lunar eclipse is perfectly safe to watch. All you’ll need to do it go outside, look up and enjoy. You don’t need a telescope or any other special equipment. However, binoculars or a small telescope will bring out details on the lunar surface.
“Anybody can look up and see the moon from anywhere in metro Detroit regardless of light pollution and get a great view of a rare event,” said Hall.
This is the first of two lunar eclipses in 2022. The second will occur on Nov. 8 and will be visible in North America, and at least partially from Asia, Australia and parts of Europe.
Doors at Cranbrook open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person for members; nonmembers pay $20. All children under age 2 are free.
If the weather obstructs the eclipse guests can still explore the museum and see a planetarium show.
To register go to https:// science.cranbrook.edu/visit/ events/2022-05/eclipse-viewing-party.