Montage showing the sequence of a total lunar eclipse, also called “Bloody Moon”
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When is the next eclipse? On the evening of Sunday, May 15, and in the early hours of Monday, May 16, 2022, a total lunar eclipse – also known as “Blood Moon” – will be visible from North and South America, as well as parts of Europe and Africa.
During the event, a larger than usual full moon – May’s “Color Moon” – will enter the center of the Earth’s shadow for a huge 84 minutes, turning into an eerie dark copper-reddish color.
Here’s everything you need to know about the “Super Flower Blood Moon Eclipse” – also known as a total lunar eclipse – including exactly when, where and how to see it from North America.
What is a total lunar eclipse “Blood Moon”?
A total lunar eclipse occurs when a full moon passes through the Earth’s shadow into space. Each month, the New Moon passes approximately between the Earth and the Sun and then orbits the other side of the Earth to the Sun to become a full moon. When these alignments are accurate, they cause either a solar or lunar eclipse.
The Moon’s orbit is named after the ecliptic – the visible path of the Sun through our daily sky – so only occasionally does a new moon eclipse the Sun (total solar eclipse) and / or a full moon passes through the Earth’s shadow (a total lunar eclipse).
Why a total lunar eclipse is so timely
The first total lunar eclipse in two years, it will be observed entirely from the eastern half of North America. However, in the western half of North America, the totality phase – when the full moon will turn red – will be an event at its best on Sunday night. This will happen from around 20:29 to 21:53 PDT / MST and from 21:29 to 22:53 in the evening MDT. Thanks to Timeanddate.com for noticing that this is the longest prime time eclipse of the century for this part of the world.
In Europe and Africa, the common thing is near sunset and moonrise on Monday, May 16, so observers there will have to get up very early and look west.
Map showing where the lunar eclipse is visible on May 15-16, 2022. The contours mark the edge of … [+] region of visibility during eclipse contact. The map is centered at 63 ° 52’W, the lunar length in the middle of the eclipse.
NASA Scientific Visualization Studio
Where is the total lunar eclipse “Blood Moon”?
Here is an interactive Google eclipse map. This is happening on the night side of the Earth at the same global time. This shifts west during the eclipse, so those near the eastern end of the line of sight – in Europe and Africa – will only see part of the eclipse just before sunset.
When is the total lunar eclipse “Blood Moon”
Here’s when to be outside where you are, although about an hour before and after it will be possible to see a very strange view of the moon in a partial eclipse. However, if you want to go out only for a short time, this is when to do it:
- 23:29 – oo: 53 hours EDT on Sunday, May 15 – Monday, 16, 2022 (max. Total at 00:11)
- 22: 29-23: 53 CDT on Sunday, May 15, 2022 (max. Total at 23:11)
- 21: 29-22: 53 MDT on Sunday, May 15, 2022 (max. Total at 22:11)
- 20: 29-21: 53 PDT on Sunday, May 15, 2022 (max. Total at 9:11 p.m.)
The exact hours to see the total lunar eclipse “Blood Moon” on May 15-16, 2022 at Universal … [+] Coordinated Time (UTC).
NASA Scientific Visualization Studio
Why “Blood Moon” is reddish
During the Moon’s long journey through the Earth’s shadow, the only light that will reach the lunar surface will first be filtered through the Earth’s atmosphere. That makes it red. Blue light with a short wavelength from the Sun hits molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere and is scattered, but red and orange light with a longer wavelength passes mostly straight, hitting fewer molecules. So the dominant color of light observed on the moon for this short time will be red.
The physics are the same as at sunset or sunrise. In fact, during a lunar eclipse, the effect is like thousands of sunrises and sunsets projected onto the lunar surface.
Disclaimer: I am the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com
I wish you clear skies and open eyes.
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