When and where to see March’s rare blood moon this week
Early risers across much of the United States are in for a remarkable treat this week. A total lunar eclipse, widely known as a blood moon, will be visible in the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday, March 3, turning the full moon a deep rusty red as it passes into Earth’s shadow. The event also coincides with March’s full moon, traditionally called the worm moon, making it a doubly rare moment for anyone willing to set an early alarm and step outside.
What exactly is a blood moon?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon, Earth and the sun align in a way that places the moon directly within Earth’s shadow. When the moon moves only partially into that shadow, the result is a partial lunar eclipse. During a total lunar eclipse, the entire moon passes into the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, a region known as the umbra, which blocks sunlight from reaching it directly. The reddish color that appears during totality comes from sunlight bending around Earth’s atmosphere and casting a warm, coppery glow across the moon’s surface. The result is the dramatic blood moon effect that has captured the imagination of skywatchers for centuries.
When to watch on March 3
According to NASA, the eclipse will unfold in distinct stages throughout the early morning hours of March 3. The penumbral eclipse, when the moon first enters Earth’s outer shadow, begins at 3:44 a.m. ET. The partial eclipse, when a visible bite appears on the moon’s surface, starts at 4:50 a.m. ET. Totality, the peak moment when the moon turns fully dark red or orange, begins at 6:04 a.m. ET and runs until 7:03 a.m. ET. The partial eclipse then continues until 8:17 a.m. ET, and the eclipse concludes entirely at 9:23 a.m. ET.
For those who want to catch the most dramatic part of the show, the window between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. ET is the one to plan around.
Who will be able to see it
An estimated 176 million people, roughly 2% of the world’s population, will be positioned to witness the eclipse’s complete phases, according to TimeandDate.com. The total lunar eclipse will be visible across North America, parts of South America, East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.
Within the United States, the best views will belong to those in the western part of the country. Residents of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington will be able to see the eclipse’s full peak totality. Viewers in major western and midwestern cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and surrounding areas are expected to experience the full dramatic effect of the total eclipse, according to projections from Space.com, NASA, TimeandDate and the Star Walk app.
Those in more central regions of the country, including Denver, Dallas and Chicago, will be able to catch a glimpse of the red moon, though the eclipse will not be visible in its entirety from those locations. Viewers in the northeast, including New York and Washington, may manage a brief look at totality but will miss the later stages of the event as morning light takes over.
Why this one is worth waking up for
Total lunar eclipses are not exceptionally rare on their own, but the combination of factors at play on March 3 makes this one particularly worth the early wake-up call. The blood moon effect during full totality is visually unlike anything else the night sky regularly offers, and the added layer of this being March’s worm moon gives the event an extra layer of seasonal significance that skywatchers tend to appreciate.
No special equipment is needed to enjoy the eclipse. Unlike a solar eclipse, a total lunar eclipse is completely safe to view with the naked eye, making it one of the most accessible astronomical events of the year. Clear skies permitting, all it takes is an open view of the western sky in the early morning hours of March 3.
Source: USA TODAY / Mary Walrath-Holdridge
Post a Comment