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WIRED·

🪐Partial Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon Tonight

Get Ready for a Red Moon in the Night Sky

TL;DR

A partial lunar eclipse and blood moon will occur tonight, casting a reddish hue on the moon's surface. The peak will be visible across North and South America, while Europe will see it at dawn. Best viewing times vary by city.

Tonight, a partial lunar eclipse will turn the moon red, creating a blood moon effect. The event will be visible across North and South America during the night, with peak visibility at 12:14 am in New York and 9:14 pm in Los Angeles. Europe will see the eclipse at dawn, with London catching it at 5:12 am. The reddish hue is due to sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere, leaving only red wavelengths to hit the moon's surface. No special eye protection is needed, and binoculars or a telescope can enhance the viewing experience. The eclipse will last about three hours and 18 minutes, with 93% of the moon's diameter within Earth's shadow at its peak.

Partial Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon Tonight — WIRED

Key Points

1

The partial lunar eclipse will last about three hours and 18 minutes, with peak visibility at 12:14 am in New York.

2

At its peak, the eclipse will have a threshold magnitude of 0.93, meaning 93% of the moon's diameter will be within the darkest part of Earth's shadow.

3

Europe will see the eclipse at dawn, with London catching it at 5:12 am, while North and South America will see it during the night.

4

The reddish hue of the blood moon is due to sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere, leaving only red wavelengths to hit the moon's surface.

5

No special eye protection is needed to observe the lunar eclipse, and binoculars or a telescope can enhance the viewing experience.

Why It Matters

If you're an astronomy enthusiast, tonight's partial lunar eclipse and blood moon will be a spectacle to behold. The peak visibility times vary by city, so check your local time. The reddish hue is due to sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere, making it a unique celestial event. No special equipment is needed, but binoculars or a telescope can enhance the viewing experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this matter?

If you're an astronomy enthusiast, tonight's partial lunar eclipse and blood moon will be a spectacle to behold. The peak visibility times vary by city, so check your local time. The reddish hue is due to sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere, making it a unique celestial event. No special equipment is needed, but binoculars or a telescope can enhance the viewing experience.

What happened?

A partial lunar eclipse and blood moon will occur tonight, casting a reddish hue on the moon's surface. The peak will be visible across North and South America, while Europe will see it at dawn. Best viewing times vary by city.

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