On Sunday night, we will get not just a beautiful red moon, but it will also appear much larger and a lot brighter. This is because there are two events overlapping: the supermoon and the total lunar eclipse. This weekend is the only one in 2019 to offer such a spectacular view. Are you in the right geographical area to see it?
Here are some tips from Steward Observatory’s Adam Block (Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona).
The Beginning of the Eclipse
The eclipse will begin to be noticeable at almost 10 PM ET when the low edge of the moon will seem darker. After 10 PM, it will start getting a little shadowy, and for the next hour to almost 12:40 AM ET it will be fully covered and show off a red or orange color, explains Block. Sometimes the total lunar eclipse is also known as the “blood moon.”
The moon appears larger and brighter, thus the name “supermoon” when it is closer to Earth – so we see it 14% larger and 30% brighter than the usual full moons.
Best Spots and Ways to Photograph the Total Lunar Eclipse Supermoon
You only need to look up to see it, but if you have a small telescope and want to set it up, you can do it to check out the moon while it is at the maximum eclipse.
To take photos, Block suggests a tripod and even just a small digital camera with a zoom lens will be able to catch the orangey super moon in action. You can even create a timelapse by setting the camera to take a series of pictures.
The best place to watch the total lunar eclipse is away from the city lights. As for the best viewing time, you can look at the magnificent event between 10:40 PM and 12:40 AM ET.
Doris’s passion for writing started to take shape in college where she was editor-in-chief of the college newspaper. Even though she ended up working in IT for more than 7 years, she’s now back to what he always enjoyed doing. With a true passion for technology, Doris mostly covers tech-related topics.