The moon will turn a reddish color late Monday night into early Tuesday morning thanks to a lunar eclipse. This is called a blood moon, and can only happen when there is a full moon. A Lunar eclipse occurs when the earth is aligned in between the moon and the sun. The earth’s shadow is painted across the moon, turning it a red orange color.
Not only will there be an eclipse Monday night, but the moon will also turn a reddish color, called a Blood Moon.Â
The eclipse will reach totality along the west coast from roughly 3-4 am PST. The partial eclipse starts a half-hour earlier at approximately 2:26 am PST.
A total eclipse occurs when the earth’s hard shadow blankets all of the moon. According to NASA, during a total lunar eclipse, the earth blocks the sun’s light, and is similar to seeing a sunset or sunrise on the moon. This is called a blood moon.
A partial eclipse occurs when the earth’s hard shadow only covers part of the moon. The moon will still have a red hue to it, but it’s not full. The penumbral occurs when the earth’s hard shadow never reaches the moon. The penumbral is much more difficult to see than a total or partial eclipse.
Luckily, skies will be mostly clear Monday night, making for a great view of the moon. While you won’t need a set of binoculars or a telescope to see it, you might want to get away from city lights for a better viewing. Bring a jacket, as it will be chilly.
