Blood Moon Eclipse visible Friday across Americas


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North and South American sky-watchers are perfectly positioned to witness an extraordinary total lunar eclipse, with the celestial event promising a spectacular display.

Night owls can catch the mesmerizing “blood moon” for roughly an hour starting at 2:26 a.m. Eastern on Friday, weather permitting, according to the Associated Press (AP).

“A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so that the Moon passes into Earth’s shadow. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon falls within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra. When the Moon is within the umbra, it appears red-orange. Lunar eclipses are sometimes called ‘Blood Moons’ because of this phenomenon,” explains NASA’s website.

National Geographic explains that lunar eclipses come in three varieties: total, partial, and penumbral.

While the eclipse is visible to the naked eye, NASA suggests that using binoculars or a telescope can enhance the viewing experience. Finding a location away from artificial light is recommended for optimal visibility.

“During a lunar eclipse, the Moon appears red or orange because any sunlight that’s not blocked by our planet is filtered through a thick slice of Earth’s atmosphere on its way to the lunar surface. It’s as if all the world’s sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon,” states NASA’s website.

Earlier this year in April, Americans experienced a different celestial phenomenon when a total solar eclipse crossed the country, as reported by Breitbart News.

“According to Breitbart News, a solar eclipse reveals the sun’s corona, which the outlet said scientists have continued to study during the few minutes of totality.”

Ancient peoples held diverse interpretations of lunar eclipses, as University of Texas historian Zoe Ortiz told the AP, “They were looking at the night sky and they had a much brighter vision than we do today.”

 

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