How to view the entire lunar eclipse on Tuesday's blood moon
On November 8, there will be a total lunar eclipse, which will paint the moon blood red as it moves into the shadow of the planet. It will be the final lunar eclipse in its entirety until 2025. Skywatchers on four continents will be able to experience the final total lunar eclipse in three years next week.
The moon will become a bloody crimson colour as it passes into the shadow of the Earth on Tuesday, the day of the eclipse. The celestial show will be visible to viewers in parts of South America, Asia, Australia, and North and Central America.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon, Earth, and sun are all in alignment and the moon moves into Earth's shadow. Total lunar eclipses are frequently referred to as 'blood moons' because of the vivid crimson hue caused by Earth's atmosphere, which scatters and reflects sunlight on the moon's surface.
The following total lunar eclipse, according to NASA, won't occur until March 14, 2025. The moon will initially grow smaller and darker as it passes into Earth's shadow before developing a reddish tinge. The United States will be able to see totality, or when the moon is entirely hidden by Earth's shadow, for more than an hour and a half.
The moon will start to move toward the edge of the shadow that the Earth casts at 3:02 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. NASA predicts that as it moves forward, the partial eclipse will appear to be consuming the lunar disc.
Totality will occur in the early hours of 5:17 to 6:42 Eastern Daylight Time. At this time, the moon will be a coppery crimson. Residents of Hawaii and Alaska will be able to see the complete skywatching event as it unfolds, weather permitting.
In contrast to solar eclipses, a lunar eclipse is safe to view with the naked eye. For more magnificent views, skywatchers can even utilise binoculars and telescopes. In order to take pictures, use a camera on a tripod, NASA representatives advised.
The next total lunar eclipse won't occur until March 2025, however there will be a penumbral lunar eclipse in May of the following year, followed by a partial lunar eclipse in October of that year.