As the Earth, moon, and sun align to produce a total lunar eclipse for the final time until 2025, nighttime skywatchers from East Asia to North America will be treated to the rare spectacle of a “Beaver blood moon” on Tuesday, weather permitting.
- The upcoming celestial display, which will occur simultaneously with Election Day in the United States, and lunar eclipses, in general, are discussed in greater detail below.
- When the Earth casts its shadow completely over a full moon, it causes the moon’s color to change to a reddish hue—hence the name “blood moon” or Beaver blood moon—and prevents any direct sunlight from reflecting off the moon.
- The eclipse on Tuesday will be visible in the Pacific, North America, eastern Asia, and Australia. Observers in Asia and Australia will see it as the moon rises in the evening, while those in North America will see it in the early morning before the moon sets. Anywhere there is a clear sky, it will be visible to the naked eye.
- The moon will gradually enter Earth’s lighter outer shadow, or “penumbra,” before entering Earth’s darker inner shadow, or “umbra,” before reaching totality and eventually emerging from the other side. This will take place over nearly six hours.
- The entire event will take place on the West Coast of the United States from 12:01 a.m. PST until just before 6 a.m. The total eclipse phase will last about 90 minutes and reach its peak at 3 a.m.
- This can only happen if the orbits of the sun, moon, and Earth all align so that the moon is directly behind the Earth when compared to the sun. Because the moon’s orbit around Earth is typically tilted in comparison to Earth’s orbit around the sun, it passes either above or below Earth’s shadow.
- The rosy appearance of the lunar surface – the moon doesn’t completely vanish from view – is brought about by beams of daylight around the external edge of the overshadowing shadow, or umbra, being sifted and refracted as it goes through Earth’s air, washing the moon in a roundabout way in a faint copper gleam.
Air pollution, dust storms, smoke from wildfires, and even volcanic ash all play a role in determining the degree of redness.
How uncommon total lunar eclipses are, according to NASA, approximately once every half-year. However, the duration varies. This year’s second blood moon will occur on Tuesday, following one in the middle of May. March 14, 2025, is not expected to see the next one.
