Viewer's Guide to the Lunar Eclipse of a Generation
GET READY FOR AN IMPRESSIVE SHOW!
The next supermoon has been getting a lot of attention, and for good reason! Have you ever seen a supermoon get eclipsed? You can see it happen Sunday night. If you've witnessed it before and remember, you have to be at least in your upper 30s. The last supermoon eclipse was in 1982. It will not happen again until 2033!
There will not be another full lunar eclipse anywhere on the globe until 2018, so do what you can to see this one! The next full lunar eclipse in the U.S. will be January of 2019
For most of us, the moon will rise directly on the eastern horizon. The moon will not climb directly overhead in the eastern U.S.; it will be 30-40 degrees above the horizon during the eclipse, so be sure to have a clear view to the east and south. If you are unsure about exactly where in the sky the moon will be, timeanddate.com has a great program that will tell you what you need to know.
Will you be able to see the eclipse?
Cloud cover could be a big problem, obstructing the view for some across the country. Check out the latest satellite here...
Forecast sky cover for the U.S., Europe, and South America
Other neat facts about this full moon and eclipse: This is the largest supermoon of 2015. It will be 5,000 km closer to Earth than last month's supermoon. This event has been termed by some a “blood moon.” Like the term supermoon, this is not one that originated in astronomy. Just recently it has gained steam in the media. The origin of the term is thought to be religious. It is the fourth lunar eclipse in the past two years. This period of four lunar eclipses is termed a tetrad.
However, the term “blood moon” could also be used to describe the color of the moon while it is fully eclipsed. So, yes, you will be able to see the moon even though it is fully eclipsed.
The reddish glow (blood red) comes from the fact that the Earth blocks all the light from the sun except for the longest wave lengths.
Red has the longest wavelength of visible light. This is why radio towers, car break lights, and stop lights are red. You can see them from farther away than any other color of light.
If you cannot see it in person, you can watch below for Slooh's live broadcast of the event set to start at 8 p.m. EDT:
Report a Typo
