A full moon will turn crimson red on Sunday night in a dazzling celestial display. The Super Blood Wolf Moon will be the first total eclipse visible across the United States since December 21, 2010. A total lunar eclipse happens when the sun, earth and moon completely align, blocking any sunlight from reaching the moon. This sees the sun casting the earth’s shadow onto the moon’s surface instead. The red colour is caused by a phenomenon called Rayleigh Scattering which filters out colours with shorter wavelengths.
When is lunar eclipse visible, time, how to watch Blood Moon
The whole of the United States will get to see this weekend’s blood moon although viewing opportunities will be best in the midwest and south.
The entire lunar eclipse will last for five hours and 12 minutes in North Carolina.
And the good news is that viewing conditions are expected to be good, according to Accuweather, with clear skies prevailing.
Here are the stages of the eclipse in their entirety:
9.36pm – Penumbral Eclipse begins
10.33pm – Partial Eclipse begins
11.41pm – Total Eclipse begins
12.12am – Maximum Eclipse
12.43am – Total Eclipse ends
1.50am – Partial Eclipse ends
2.48am – Penumbral Eclipse ends
You do not need any special equipment to watch the lunar eclipse.
Just make sure you dress warm as it will be cold.
How does the Super Blood Wolf Moon get its name?
The Super Blood Wolf Moon features a supermoon, when the full moon appears bigger and brighter than usual.
The “blood” moon is a reference to the moon’s colour, while the “wolf” refers to and full moon in January.
The tradition dates back to early Colonial times when wolves would howl at the moons outside villages, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac.
When are the next full moons of 2019?
Full Wolf Moon – January 21
Full Snow Moon – February 19
Full Worm Moon – March 20
Full Pink Moon – April 19
Full Flower Moon – May 18
Full Strawberry Moon – June 17
Full Buck Moon – July 16
Full Sturgeon Moon – August 15
Full Harvest Moon – September 14
Full Hunter’s Moon – October 13
Full Beaver Moon – November 12
Full Cold Moon – December 12