Total lunar eclipse will be visible this month
The anticipation is building for a big celestial event coming up this month that will be visible in the Lehigh Valley and for much of the United States.
Observers in the eastern and central time zones will be able to see the full moon turn a dark reddish color as the sun, Earth and moon align for a total lunar eclipse.
Accuweather is calling the upcoming eclipse “one of the top astronomy events of 2022.” It will take place May 15 into May 16. It will not require any special equipment to see, and will be visible as long as skies remain clear.
A total lunar eclipse is sometimes referred to as a “blood moon” due to the moon’s appearing dark red or rusty orange during the event.
Last year, a combination of a full moon — May’s full flower moon — a “supermoon” and a total lunar eclipse made for a special “super flower blood moon eclipse.”
While this year’s event will not feature a supermoon (you can see one June 14, almost coinciding with the summer solstice), it’s still expected to be quite the show.
Here’s how the total lunar eclipse will play out, according to TimeandDate.com:
Penumbral lunar eclipse at 9:32 p.m. May 15 (the full moon drops in brightness).
Partial lunar eclipse at 10:27 p.m. May 15 (the moon begins to turn red).
Total lunar eclipse (totality) at 11:29 p.m. May 15 (the full moon is reddish-orange).
Maximum eclipse at 12:11 a.m. May 16.
Full eclipse ends at 12:53 a.m. May 16.
Partial lunar eclipse at 1:55 a.m. May 16 (the full moon starts to turn gray).
Penumbral lunar eclipse ends at 2:50 a.m. May 16 (full moon is muted in brightness).
A few other facts about this total lunar eclipse
According to space.com, totality (or the moment when the moon is fully engulfed by the Earth’s shadow) will last quite a bit longer than average during this event: one hour and 25 minutes. During this time, the moon will pass south of the center of the Earth’s shadow, resulting in the lower part of the moon appearing bright, while its upper portion should look noticeably darker.
The caveat? The brightness and the colors depend on the state of the atmosphere, so it’s hard for experts to say exactly how the moon might look that night.
Observers of the moon coming above the east-southeast horizon will also see it “magnified” by an optical illusion, which could allow photographers to frame the already-eclipsed moon with distant landmarks.
The best place to see the eclipse will be any spot that is not obstructed by trees or tall buildings, but visibility will also depend on the weather.
If you miss this one, don’t worry. A second total lunar eclipse will be visible from North America on Nov. 7-8.