A total lunar eclipse known as a “blood moon” will appear around the world on Tuesday, Nov. 8, coming hours after polls open across the United States for the midterm elections.
At that time, NASA says on its website, the “Moon enters the Earth’s penumbra, the outer part of the shadow. The Moon begins to dim, but the effect is quite subtle.” The total lunar eclipse will start at around 5:17 a.m. ET or 2:17 a.m. PT, the website adds.
That’s when “the entire Moon is now in the Earth’s umbra,” according to NASA. “The Moon will turn a coppery-red. Try binoculars or a telescope for a better view. If you want to take a photo, use a camera on a tripod with exposures of at least several seconds.”
After the eclipse on Tuesday, the next total lunar eclipse won’t occur again for another three years, or March 14, 2025, NASA noted.
“You will be able to see the entire eclipse unfold before sunrise, weather permitting, as the moon exits the dark part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra,” NASA says of Tuesday’s event.
It’s the first total lunar eclipse on Election Day in U.S. history.
How Often Has There Been a Blood Moon?
A blood moon is not that rare and happens due to lunar eclipses that occur about three times a year. Although it appears around the world, it is not visible everywhere on Earth. For example, the blood moon on Nov 8, 2022 was visible in North America, Central America, Asia, Australia, Pacific islands, and some parts of South America.“Every eclipse is special because they’re all wonderful opportunities to go out and look at the moon, our nearest neighbor in space,” Petro told the paper.
The occurrence of a blood-colored moon has been recorded for thousands of years and has been mentioned in ancient Chinese history as well as in the Old Testament. In a notable example, a red-colored moon was seen during the fall of Constantinople in 1453 AD when the Ottomans finally took over the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
