We have a total lunar eclipse coming up on Tuesday, March 3 that will be visible from Tucson! It will be early in the morning before sunrise, so be sure to set your alarms. As the Moon enters Earth's umbra (the darkest part of the shadow), it will take on a dim reddish glow, leading to the commonly used term "blood moon". This red color is light filtering through Earth's atmosphere, which we usually see at sunrise and sunset. You can expect something like the photo at right, taken during a similar eclipse in 2008.
We won't get another total eclipse until June 2029, so don't miss it! However, we will see a penumbral eclipse in August 2027 and a partial eclipse in January 2028.
Here is the schedule:
- Penumbral eclipse starts: 1:44 am
- Partial eclipse starts: 2:50 am
- Total eclipse starts: 4:04 am
- Maximum eclipse: 4:33 am
- Total eclipse ends: 5:02 am
- Partial eclipse ends: 6:17 am
- Moon sets: 6:53 am
- Penumbral eclipse ends: 7:23 am (not visible)
Penumbral phase is very subtle, just slightly dimmer than a normal full moon, as the Earth is blocking only some of the sunlight from the Moon. Then partial is more noticeable as the Moon begins to enter Earth's umbra, where all of the light is blocked. It will look like someone has taken a bite out of the Moon! And finally when the Moon is completely in the umbra we will see the "blood moon" effect, as mentioned earlier. If we were on the Moon, we could see all the sunrises and sunsets around the world at the same time!
A lunar eclipse is something that can be enjoyed either with the naked eye or with a telescope. So however you view the eclipse, enjoy!
Science Snacks – Space Bites – All About Lunar Eclipses
Discover how and why Lunar Eclipses occur!
Note: This video references the penumbral eclipse of November 2020.