A total lunar eclipse will occur from late Thursday to Friday morning. This event will make the moon turn red. It is an exciting and rare celestial occurrence. People in North and South America will have the best view. Parts of Africa and Europe might catch a glimpse of it as well. If you want to see the moon turn red, make sure to be ready. The eclipse will be visible for a short time, so don’t miss it.

What exactly happens during a total lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse happens when the sun, Earth, and moon align in a straight line. This causes Earth’s shadow to cover the moon. When this happens, the moon can look dark or even red. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when only part of the moon is covered by Earth’s shadow. It looks like a bite taken out of the moon. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire moon is covered by Earth’s shadow and turns a reddish hue. The reddish color happens because the sunlight bends through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the moon.

When can you watch the eclipse?

NASA tells us that eclipses occur between four and seven times a year. A partial lunar eclipse was visible in September across parts of the Americas, Africa, and Europe. The last time a total lunar eclipse took place was in 2022. For those who want to witness this upcoming event, it will be visible starting around 2:26 a.m. Eastern on Friday. The best time to view it is at 3 a.m. Eastern. It will last for about one hour. All you need to do is step outside and look up at the sky. No special tools are needed. Just enjoy the view of the red moon.

Weather can affect visibility of the total lunar eclipse

Shannon Schmoll, the director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, says that clear weather is key to seeing the eclipse. If the weather is cloudy, it might be harder to see the moon. In some parts of Europe and Africa, the moon may set before the eclipse is fully visible. However, if you’re in North or South America, the sky should offer great visibility for the event. It’s important to check the weather in your area before planning to watch.

A special lunar event for North and South America

This total lunar eclipse is especially good for people living in the Americas. Michael Faison, an astronomy expert from Yale University, notes that North and South America will have the best view of the red moon. If you miss this one, don’t worry. Another total lunar eclipse will happen on September 7. This eclipse will be visible across parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe. The next total lunar eclipse for the Americas will take place in March 2026. Mark your calendars so you don’t miss it!

Lunar eclipses have fascinated people for thousands of years

Lunar eclipses have been intriguing people for thousands of years. In ancient times, people studied the sky with great interest. They had an unobstructed view of the stars and the moon. This gave them insights that can still surprise us today. Historian Zoe Ortiz from the University of North Texas explains that ancient civilizations were highly knowledgeable about celestial events. They could track the movements of the stars and planets with remarkable accuracy.

The earliest known observations of lunar eclipses come from the ancient Greeks. Aristotle observed the curved shadow of Earth during a lunar eclipse. This gave proof that the Earth is round. In ancient Mesopotamia, the red moon was seen as a bad omen. People thought it was a sign of bad luck for the king. To protect the king, they would place a substitute king on the throne during the eclipse. This way, the bad luck would not fall on the real king.