Moon goes blood red this weekend: ‘Eclipse for the Americas’

CAPE CANAVERAL FL. –

The total lunar eclipse will be visible in the night sky this weekend. Stargazers from North and South America will enjoy longer thrills.

The celestial action will take place from Sunday night to Monday morning. The moon is bathed in the reflected orange and red hues of Earth’s sunsets and sunrises for approximately 1 1/2 hours. This is one of the longest totalities in the decade. It will mark the first year of the so-called “blood moon”.

Weather permitting, observers in the eastern half North America and all of Central or South America will be able to enjoy the entire show from their prime seats. Partially visible stages of the eclipse can be seen across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Alaska, Asia, and Australia are not included.

“This is a real eclipse for the Americas.” saidNASA’s Noah Petro is a planetary geologist that specializes in the moon. It’s going be a treat.

He noted that you only need patience and eyesight to succeed.

Total eclipses occur when the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon. This shadow casts a shadow over our constant cosmic companion. At the peak, the moon will be 225,000 kilometres (3622,000 kilometres away) from Earth. This eclipse occurs around midnight on the East Coast.

Petro: “This is a gradual, slow, beautiful event that you can see as long as you’re clear where it is.” said.

NASA will offer a livestream of an eclipse from different locations; the Slooh network and observatories will also be available.

In November there will be another long total lunar eclipse. This time, Africa and Europe will have the luck again but not Americas. The next one will not be until 2025.

NASA’s Lucy spacecraft, which was launched last fall, will capture this weekend’s event at 64 million miles (103,000,000 kms) from Earth. Ground controllers are continuing their efforts to fix a damaged solar panel.

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins is a geologist and plans to set her alarm clock on the International Space Station early in the morning.

She told The Associated Press that she hoped to be able to be up on time and be in the right place at just the right moment to catch a good view.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education supports the Associated Press Health and Science Department. All content is the sole responsibility of the Associated Press.