The Chesapeake Bay region is a special place for sky watching. Witnessing a celestial phenomenon is cool all by itself, but seeing one reflected on the water is even more compelling.
This week, a great opportunity presents itself along the mid-Atlantic coast as a lunar eclipse will appear to turn the Moon blood-red. To appreciate it, though, you’ll need to be a night owl.
For us on the East Coast, the process begins Thursday night, just before midnight. It continues through the early-morning hours of Friday, with the full effect of the red Moon expected to be visible just before 2:30 a.m.
How does it work? A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon align. When the moon passes into the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, it appears red-orange. That’s why lunar eclipses have often been called “Blood Moons”. Ancient civilizations often saw them as bad omens.
The lunar eclipse will be visible across the Western Hemisphere, and you won’t need any special equipment to see it (nor will it damage your vision like a solar eclipse). NASA recommends using binoculars or a telescope and finding a dark environment away from a lot of light pollution.
Two of Virginia’s four International Dark Sky Parks are hosting overnight events to watch the lunar eclipse.
Here’s a quick timeline of what you can expect to see Thursday night, provided it’s clear enough.
- 11:57pm, the moon enters the outer part of the shadow. It begins to dim, but is still subtle.
- 1:09am, the moon begins to enter the darkest part of the shadow and a partial eclipse begins, appearing like the moon has a “bite” taken out of it
- 2:26am, the entire moon is in the darkest part of the shadow, making it appear blood-red.
- 3:31am, as the moon exits the dark shadow of Earth, the red color fades, and again appears as if a “bite” has been taken out of the moon, but on the opposite side this time.
- 4am, the moon is dim, but subtle
- 6am, the eclipse is over.
While you have your eyes trained on the sky, keep an eye out for constellations. When the Moon’s glow is dimmed by the eclipse, star formations may be easier to spot. Mars and Jupiter will be visible that night, too.
Why does the moon look red, anyway? NASA says it’s because any sunlight that isn’t blocked by Earth is filtered through our atmosphere on its way to the moon. “It’s as if all the world’s sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon,” this information page says. Deep thoughts to consider at 2:30 in the morning, as you watch the Blood Moon.
