It’s always fun to have a celestial event like an eclipse. These events bring people out of their homes and form a sense of community while sharing a rare experience together. This Blood Moon event is one of them and watching it the right way can make the event more fun.
Tonight’s Blood Moon is visible in North America but best in the Pacific Ocean region. Weather and clouds permitting the show where the Earth’s shadow passes over the Moon should bring some spectacular results. It’s called a Blood Moon because this phenomenon has the Earth’s atmosphere that is full of particles bends light giving the Moon a rusty red or blood color. This is the second Blood Moon of the year 2014.
The show starts at 1:17 am Pacific Time for the folks on the West Coast of America and will go on until 6:32 am. East Coast times are 4:17 am to 7:01 am. East Coasters won’t be able to see the entire event as the Moon will set below the horizon before the event is finished but it should give one amazing show nonetheless.
If one lives in a major city where there might be light pollution, so many lights that it dims the view of the sky, the event should still be visible and enjoyable as the Moon is so prominent. Clouds are the other problem. If there’s substantial cloud cover check your local weather to see when it might clear up. If the clouds are spotty you’ll have to time yourself and then wait until the clouds pass over and there’s a break in their formation. Should all this not work the online option is to fire up the computer or television screen and go to the NASA website and watch the event. Those with hi definition sets will see things unencumbered with NASA data and perhaps commentary. Check your social media too to see if anyone is streaming the NASA feed and you can chat along with others.
This Blood Moon is also significant in that the Moon will be in what is called perigee, or closest it comes to Earth during the Moon’s orbit. That should make for even better viewing and a more exciting experience. The Moon should look 5.3% larger than the Blood Moon that occurred in April of 2014.
If you miss this eclipse then don’t worry there will be another in about a year in September 2015 so break out the lawn chairs and tailgate supplies and prepare.