Get ready for a celestial spectacle! On the night of Thursday, March 13, into the early hours of Friday, March 14, skywatchers in Colorado could have the chance to witness a total lunar eclipse.
We asked the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Curator of Space Sciences KaChun Yu to break down what to expect and why this phenomenon is so fascinating.
Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Curator of Space Sciences KaChun Yu breaks down what to expect with the total lunar eclipse and why this phenomenon is so fascinating. (Photo courtesy of KaChun Yu)
Q: What does it mean that we're going to see a "total lunar eclipse?" What is going to happen?
A: During a lunar eclipse, the Moon—in its orbit around the Earth—passes through Earth’s shadow. A “total lunar eclipse” just means that at some point, it will be completely inside Earth’s shadow instead of clipping it so part of it is still lit by the Sun.
Q: Why does the moon appear red during a total lunar eclipse?
A: When we look at the Sun setting in the west, it looks orange and reddish because sunlight has to pass through more of the air to get to us, and the air scatters away the blue colors in sunlight. During a total lunar eclipse, the Sun is still shining on the side of Earth opposite the Moon. Sunlight not blocked by the Earth can pass through its atmosphere, leaving it a reddish hue just like the light from a setting Sun. When the Moon is completely inside Earth’s shadow during a total lunar eclipse, it’s still illuminated by this reddish glow, which is why it will look red in our sky.
Q: What are the best ways for people in Colorado to view the eclipse, and do you have any tips for stargazers?
A: As long as you can see the Moon up in the sky (that is, it’s not blocked by clouds or a nearby mountain), you will be able to see the total lunar eclipse. You don’t need any special equipment, and unlike a total solar eclipse, you don’t have to stand anywhere special as long as you’re on the nighttime side of Earth. In Colorado, Earth’s shadow will take a noticeable bite into the Moon starting at 11:09 p.m. on Thursday March 13, and the whole Moon will slip completely into Earth’s shadow at 12:26 a.m. At 1:31 am, the Moon will start to move out of Earth’s shadow, and the last bit of Earth’s shadow disappears by 2:47 a.m. Friday morning. Other solar system objects visible earlier in the evening include the planets Jupiter to the southwest and Mars which will be high in the sky at the start of the evening. The constellation of Orion the Hunter will still be prominent to the south.
Q: How do lunar eclipses contribute to our understanding of the moon and Earth’s atmosphere?
A: Most astronomers and space scientists don’t have any plans to study the Moon during the total lunar eclipse. Like anyone else, they may poke their heads outside to enjoy the Moon’s unusual blood-red appearance. However, some researchers in the past have used Moon-orbiting spacecraft to look at how the dropping temperatures on the lunar surface during the eclipse can tell us something about the make-up of the lunar soil.
The moon and craters. Handwritten on original negative envelope: "NEG #4976" "Crater. Moon Nininger Dec 16-1941." (Photo/ Denver Museum of Nature & Science)
So, while the weather forecast suggests mostly cloudy skies on Thursday night and Friday morning, don’t let that stop you! Keep an eye on the weather forecast on Thursday evening and if the weather looks decent, take a chance and stay up late — you might just be rewarded with a beautiful, blood-red view of this year’s total lunar eclipse.