by The first total lunar eclipse of 2022 has arrived, and the Super Blood Flower Moon is expected to thrill sky watchers on Earth’s night side.
This eclipse tonight and early Monday morning (May 15-16) takes place during the so-called Flower Moon, the full moon of May, so named because it coincides with the spring blooming season in America. It’s also a supermoon tonight, making it the Super Flower Blood Moon of May 2022.
On the US East Coast, the show began at 9:32 p.m. Sunday (May 15; 01:32 GMT May 16), when the Moon entered penumbra, the brightest part of the Earth’s shadow, which occurs when the Earth only partially obscures the Sun.
Related: How to watch the Super Flower Blood Moon lunar eclipse online
Within an hour, the entire moon will be covered in penumbra and the so-called partial eclipse will begin, according to time and date. The moon will then gradually pass into the umbra, Earth’s darkest shadow with no view of the sun.
As the moon makes its way through the umbra, sky watchers will be able to see our planet’s round shadow gobbling up a growing portion of the moon. full moon. At 11:29 p.m. EDT, about one hour after the beginning of the partial eclipse and two hours after the beginning of the twilight phase, the moon will be completely covered by the planet’s dark shadow. However, it will not disappear from the sky at that time. Instead, it will turn red, an effect caused by light scattered by earth’s atmospherethat inspires the blood Moon nickname given to a completely eclipsed moon.
It will take almost an hour and a half for the moon to cross the umbra. It will reach the deepest middle portion of the shadow at 12:11 a.m. EDT on Monday (May 16). The total eclipse will end at 12:53 a.m. EDT, after which Earth’s round shadow will slowly recede, revealing a crescent portion of the moon barely shadowed by penumbra. The moon will leave the umbra entirely at 1:55 a.m. EDT; the subsequent penumbral eclipse will last another hour.
Observers in other time zones should adjust for the time difference. The entire Flower Moon eclipse can be seen from all over South and Central America, and from eastern North America. The western part of the US will still be able to see the total eclipse, but will miss out on parts of the less spectacular penumbral eclipse, according to Time and Date.
The westernmost parts of Africa will see the total eclipse, while most of Europe, with the exception of Spain, will only experience the partial eclipse.
The next total lunar eclipse, on November 8, 2022, will peak over the Pacific Ocean, favoring sky watchers in the western US, eastern Asia and Australia.
There will also be a partial solar eclipse on October 25, visible from Europe, the Middle East, northeast Africa, and western Asia.
If you plan to observe or photograph the lunar eclipse, you can find some useful tips in our guide. And you can also share your best snapshots with us.
Publisher’s note: If you take an amazing photo of a lunar eclipse and want to share it with Space.com readers, send your photos, comments, and your name and location to [email protected]
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