Earth's shadow will obscure the majority of the light that typically illuminates the lunar surface, resulting in the phenomenon known as a blood moon.
From Thursday night into Friday morning, the moon will be engulfed by Earth's shadow, transforming its usual pearly appearance into a vivid red sphere.
This event marks the first total lunar eclipse in over two years. Commonly referred to as a blood moon, it will be most prominently visible across the Americas, western regions of Africa and Europe, New Zealand, and parts of Russia.
“It’s a beautiful sight to behold in the night sky,” remarked Amanda Bosh, the executive director of the Lowell Observatory in Arizona, who has witnessed more than 20 lunar eclipses throughout her life.
“I enjoy observing the solar system and the universe in action,” she added.
What constitutes a total lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon align in that specific order. Various types of lunar eclipses exist, depending on how deeply the moon enters Earth's shadow, which is categorized into an outer region known as the penumbra and the innermost section called the umbra.
A total lunar eclipse, where the entire moon passes into the umbra, is the most dramatic type. During this event, Earth's shadow envelops the moon, causing it to glow a deep red. This effect arises because sunlight that bends around the edges of Earth and illuminates the lunar surface must first traverse our atmosphere, which preferentially scatters blue light wavelengths. Consequently, the red wavelengths prevail, resulting in the blood-moon appearance.
Dr. Bosh notes that the specific shade of red observed during a lunar eclipse can vary. Factors such as cloud cover and recent natural events—like dust storms or volcanic eruptions that introduce particles into the atmosphere—can enhance the moon's crimson hue.
In contrast, a penumbral eclipse occurs when the moon merely grazes the outer part of Earth's shadow. This results in a subtle dimming of the moon that may be challenging to detect.
When only a portion of the moon enters the innermost umbra, a partial eclipse occurs, giving the appearance that a segment has been removed from the moon's surface.