How to watch the total lunar eclipse on May 15
by Joe Hernandez for NPR, slightly edited by SCP to account for pacific timing
“Step outside Sunday night and you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the total lunar eclipse.
Late in the evening, the full moon is slated to pass directly into Earth’s shadow cast by the sun, illuminating the moon a brilliant red.
According to NASA, the moon will begin to enter Earth’s shadow – also known as the umbra – around 8:30pm on Sunday.
Totality – or the period when the moon is fully immersed in Earth’s shadow – will begin at about 9:30pm and last for roughly an hour and a half.
The eclipse ends just before 12am Monday morning.
A lunar eclipse is safe to look at with your naked eyes
In the west the moon will be closer to the horizon. Try to find an unobstructed view of the sky to see the eclipse.
Unlike a solar eclipse – when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun – it’s safe to look at a lunar eclipse with your naked eyes, since the sun is at your back.
You can simply step outside and gaze up at the transit or use binoculars or a telescope to get a better view.
Can’t get outside to see the eclipse? NASA will be live streaming the event online, with views from around the world.
Why does the moon turn red during a lunar eclipse?
Picture the celestial bodies in a line. From left to right, you’ve got the sun, then the Earth, then the moon.
The sun is shining directly on the Earth, creating a shadow on the far side. That’s what the moon passes through during the eclipse.
If you were standing on the moon looking at Earth, our world would be silhouetted in a red halo. NASA describes this as all the sunrises and sunsets occurring around the globe at that time.
It’s that red-orange light that’s projected through Earth’s atmosphere and onto the moon, giving it the warm red tone it takes on during the eclipse.
That’s also the origin of the term “blood moon.”
