TONIGHT: What You Need To See The Blood Moon

What NASA Says You Need To See The Lunar Total Eclipse Tongith In South Florida

What You Need To See The Blood Moon Tonight

BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) — The blood moon should be visible overnight as the cloudy and rainy weather should move out before the peak of the big show.

What do I need to see the lunar total eclipse ‘blood moon’?

Tonight’s total lunar eclipse starts at approximately 9:32 PM and will run through 2:50 AM on Monday morning. The show will peak during the “blood moon” phase from 11:29 PM to about 12:53 AM. This is the phase that the eath’s shadow will completely cover the sun and produce some beautiful pink and red hues across the moon.

The event will require several things to observe. According to Noah Petro, a Planetary Geologist at NASA, all you will need is “patience and eyeballs.” Of course, you will also have to be willing to stay up very late to see the entire show.

No, you don’t need any special equipment or need to wear protective eyewear. Unline solar eclipses, a lunar eclipse will not damage your eyes when looking directly at it. Remember, you are looking at reflective sunlight, not directly at the sun.

What about the weather?

The stormy weather we have been experiencing in South Florida will most likely affect the beginning part of the show.

Cloudy weather may prevent us from viewing the early stages of the eclipse as the earth’s shadow appears to take a bite out of the moon. The wather is set to clear at about 9:00 – 10:00 PM, according to weather.com.

So, the weather should be perfect for the ‘blood moon’ phase of the total lunar eclipse. See the anticipated schedule below.

What to expect during the blood moon?

1. 7:58 PM – Moon rise just before sunset
2. 8:12 PM – Sunset
3. 9:32 PM – Partial lunar eclipse begins
4. 11:29 PM – Total Lunar Eclipse begins (Beginning of ‘Blood Moon’)
5. 12:12 AM – Maximum Total Eclipse
6. 2:50 AM – Partial Lunar Eclipse ends (returns to full moon)

If you can stay up for it, it may be worth it. If you miss it tonight, you will have another chance to view the celestial event in November.