Don’t Miss The Last Total Lunar Eclipse Until 2024
The extremely rare eclipse won't be returning for several years, so make sure you don't miss it.
A total lunar eclipse is coming next month and you won’t want to miss it — because you won’t have a chance to see another one for three years. The rare eclipse will be coming on Wednesday, May 26, though you will need to be willing to stay up pretty late (or wake up insanely early) to get a good look.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the earth lines up perfectly between the moon and the sun, causing the sun to cast a shadow which results in the moon having a darker blood orange glow to it. For this reason, lunar eclipses are often referred to as “blood moons.”
When Is The Total Lunar Eclipse?
The eclipse is set to begin on Wednesday, May 26 at 4:46 am EST (1:46 am PST). The moon will enter the darkest part of the sun’s shadow, which is commonly referred to as the umbra, at 5:45 am EST (2:45 am PST) before exiting at approximately 5:53 am EST (2:53 am EST).
Here’s How to Watch It
Since it is just the moon, you won’t need binoculars to get a good view of it. And unlike a solar eclipse, you won’t be required to wear any eye protection in order to view it safely. Just look up at the sky and get a good look because it’ll be the last total lunar eclipse until 2024.
Where Will it Best Be Seen?
Unfortunately for East Coasters, Farmer’s Almanac says that the total eclipse is “only partially visible from North America,” while noting that “the best views will be from western North America” along with Hawaii, Southern and Eastern Asia, South America, and Australia.
If you do end up missing out on the total lunar eclipse due to either location or forgetting to set your alarm, you can still catch the annular eclipse of the sun coming in June, the partial eclipse of the moon in November, or the total eclipse of the sun in December.
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