November 8. 2022 Total Lunar Eclipse Time and Phases. (NASA)
The second blood moon of the year and the last for us until 2025 is set to be the highlight in the sky early in the morning on Tuesday, November 8th.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon all align in a way that the moon is in the Earth’s shadow. Tonight’s total eclipse will see the moon in the darkest part of the shadow and will turn the moon red, hence the name “blood moon.”
The eclipse starts at 1:55am MST and will be done at 6:06am MST. Totality begins at 3:17am and ends at 4:42am. Maximum eclipse will be at 3:59am.
You don’t need anything special to see the event as it will be easily visible with the naked eye. Binoculars though will provide a closer look.
The one hiccup we might have here in Thornton in being able to view the show is cloud cover. Overnight tonight moisture is expected to increase leading to partly to mostly cloudy skies. Hopefully, however, there will be some breaks in the coverage allowing a view. You can check the latest hour-by-hour sky cover forecast here.
This will be the last total lunar eclipse visible for us until March 14, 2025 so if you can get out of bed to see it and Mother Nature cooperates, it is well worth it.
Just in case you missed it, our west-facing weather webcam happened to catch the “super blood blue moon.” Certainly it isn’t as good as witnessing it in person but it does provide a cool look. You can see the shadow of the Earth clearly obscuring the moon as the event progresses. View full screen for the best view.
If you captured images of the celestial event, please share them with us so we can add them to our January slideshow.
A cosmic event not seen in 36 years — a rare “super blood blue moon” — may be glimpsed January 31 in parts of western North America, Asia, the Middle East, Russia and Australia. The event is causing a buzz because it combines three unusual lunar events — an extra big super moon, a blue moon and a total lunar eclipse. Continue reading Rare ‘super blood blue moon’ visible on Jan 31→
Path of the moon during the total lunar eclipse on September 27, 2015. Click for a larger view. (Fred Espenak)
A total lunar eclipse coupled with a ‘supermoon’ will bring a very unusual scene to the sky on Sunday. Taken separately, the two events are not quite as extraordinary or rare. However, this will be the first time in 33 years they have occurred at the same time and the last for another 18 years.
The moon’s orbit around Earth is not a perfect circle and when it is at its closest to us, it appears quite a bit larger to our eye – hence the name ‘supermoon.’
On Sunday it will be about 31,000 miles closer to Earth than it is at its farthest point. According to NASA, this results in it appearing to be about 14% larger and 30% brighter.
The total lunar eclipse will be our second of 2015 and fourth in the past two – a tetrad of eclipses. During these, the moon finds itself in the Earth’s shadow and without direct sunlight hitting its surface, the moon turns an eerie orange / red color – a ‘blood moon.’
The last time these two events coincided was in 1982 and the next time won’t be until 2033. As NASA scientist Noah Petro said, “That’s rare because it’s something an entire generation may not have seen.”
When and where to watch?
The partial eclipse begins at 7:07pm MDT on Sunday, September 27, 2015 with totality starting at 8:11pm. The moon will then be completely eclipsed for a little more than an hour with mid-eclipse at 8:47am. The waning partial eclipse will end at 10:27pm.
One catch for viewing the entire event here along the Front Range is that when it begins, the moon will actually be just starting to rise on the eastern horizon. However, at mid-eclipse the moon will be 21 degrees above the horizon to the east southeast providing a nice view not far above the landscape.
Anyone in the area with a clear view of the lower, eastern sky should have no problem viewing the event.
Will Mother Nature cooperate?
Our unseasonably warm temperatures will be continuing through the weekend so there are no concerns about it being too cold to go outside. Clouds, however, are something to watch closely for. Some atmospheric moisture is expected late in the day Sunday and it is possible cloud cover may impact the clear viewing.
April 15, 2014 – The lunar eclipse is seen half-way to totality, the total lunar eclipse, and half-way between totality and the end. Click for a larger view. (Tony’s Takes)
During totality, the moon will be rendered orange / red as the Earth’s shadow envelops the moon. Many are calling this a ‘blood moon’ but the meaning behind that term isn’t exactly clear.
As written on EarthSky.org, some attribute it to the lunar tetrad – four successive full lunar eclipses without any partial eclipses. Tomorrow morning’s eclipse is the second in the lunar tetrad with each full lunar eclipse coming six months apart.
The blood moon as it pertains to these eclipses should not be confused with the October full moon which is also referred to as a blood moon in folklore.
Diagram of the October 8, 2014 total lunar eclipse. Click for a larger view. (Image courtesy Fred Espenak / EclipseWise.com)
For the second time of the year, sky gazers will have the opportunity to witness a total lunar eclipse. This is in fact the second in a series of four consecutive total lunar eclipses, an event called the lunar tetrad.
Colorado and the rest of the western United States will have a front row seat to the celestial event occurring on the morning of Wednesday, October 8.
When and where to watch?
The partial eclipse begins at 3:15am MDT with totality starting at 4:25am. The moon will then be completely eclipsed for approximately one hour with mid-eclipse at 4:55am. The waning partial eclipse will end at 6:34am.
Anyone in the area with a clear view of the western sky should have no problem viewing the event.
When the event begins the moon will be about 40 degrees above the horizon. It will be sinking closer to the horizon as the eclipse progresses. At mid-eclipse, the moon will be 25 degrees above the horizon. When the moon emerges from the shadow of the Earth, it will barely be visible to the west as it sets.
Will Mother Nature cooperate?
Current models do indicate there will be some overnight cloudiness lasting into tomorrow morning as we see an increase in atmospheric moisture. Grids indicate 40% sky cover for the time period near mid-eclipse. The timing and location of those clouds may limit viewing a bit. The good thing is that we are expecting a mild night with temperatures right around 50 degrees in Thornton during the event. Click here to view the hour-by-hour point forecast for the latest.
What is the ‘blood moon’ and tetrad?
April 15, 2014 – The lunar eclipse is seen half-way to totality, the total lunar eclipse, and half-way between totality and the end. Click for a larger view. (Tony’s Takes)
During totality, the moon will be rendered orange / red as the Earth’s shadow envelops the moon. Many are calling this a ‘blood moon’ but the meaning behind that term isn’t exactly clear.
As written on EarthSky.org, some attribute it to the lunar tetrad – four successive full lunar eclipses without any partial eclipses. Tomorrow morning’s eclipse is the second in the lunar tetrad with each full lunar eclipse coming six months apart.
The blood moon as it pertains to these eclipses should not be confused with the October full moon which is also referred to as a blood moon in folklore.
Diagram of the April 14 / 15, 2014 total lunar eclipse. Click for a larger view. ( Fred Espenak, http://www.MrEclipse.com)
For those willing to forgo a bit of sleep tonight, a gaze skyward will provide a look at the first lunar eclipse of 2014.
The entire celestial event will be visible from Colorado beginning at 11:58 pm tonight as the partial eclipse begins. Totality occurs at 1:07 am MDT on the morning of April 15 and lasting until 2:25 am. The event will be over at 3:33 am.
Current weather forecasts for Thornton and the Denver metro area show that we should have mostly clear skies tonight allowing prime viewing of the event. It will however be quite cold with temperatures in the mid to upper 20s. Check our 48 hour point forecast for what to expect.
During totality, the moon will be rendered orange / red as the Earth’s shadow envelops the moon. Many are calling this a ‘blood moon’ but the meaning behind that term isn’t exactly clear.
As written on EarthSky.org, some attribute it to the lunar tetrad – four successive full lunar eclipses without any partial eclipses. Tonight’s eclipse begins the lunar tetrad with each full lunar eclipse coming six months apart.
The blood moon as it pertains to these eclipses should not be confused with the October full moon which is also referred to as a blood moon in folklore.
Also note that Mars is at its closest point to Earth in 6 years. The red planet will be visible at about the 2:00 position in relation to the fully eclipsed moon.
The lunar eclipse gets started in Colorado as the Earth's shadow starts to cover the moon. View more images in the slideshow below. (ThorntonWeather.com)
It was a very cold morning in Thornton as the temperature dropped to 15° but the fog that was forecast never materialized and we had a great view of the lunar eclipse. Just before dawn the Earth’s shadow began to encroach on the moon and just as the eclipse was peaking, the moon set behind the Rocky Mountains.
View images of the lunar eclipse as seen from Barr Lake State Park below
Fog in Denver was feared to be a threat for viewing this morning’s total lunar eclipse but Mother Nature cooperated and provided clear Colorado skies. Not long before dawn the celestial show began and those who were able to witness it saw something that we won’t have an opportunity to see again until 2014.
NASA had called the lunar eclipse a ‘super-sized’ event due to its low placement on the horizon which tricks the mind and eye to thinking the moon is larger than it normally is. With our only natural satellite setting in the west, Coloradoans were able to view the eclipse just as the moon set behind the Rocky Mountains.
The total lunar eclipse was visible across a large swath of the Earth. From east of the Rocky Mountains to Australia and to Asia, nearly half of the globe had a view of the event.
Heightening interest in the eclipse was the fact that it will be the last total lunar eclipse for nearly three years. The next one won’t occur until April 14, 2014. There will be a second one that year on October 8th. In 2015 there will also be two; one on April 4th and another on September 27th.
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The last lunar eclipse until 2014 will be visible along the Colorado Front Range early Saturday morning. (ThorntonWeather.com)
If you can get yourself out of bed early in the morning on Saturday, December 10, 2011 you will be treated to the last total lunar eclipse for nearly three years. For viewers in Thornton and along the Colorado Front Range, the event will be relatively quick but punctuated by a setting moon with the Rocky Mountains in the foreground.
Saturday morning the moon will be passing through the lower half of the Earth’s shadow just before it sets in the west at 7:12am MST Saturday. The low hanging moon will appear much larger than normal bringing what NASA calls a ‘super-sized’ eclipse.
Because the moon will be low on the western horizon, finding a good spot to watch it will be critical. In Thornton, visitors to our Facebook page have suggested near the Thornton Civic Center, Brittany Hill or near the water towers at 112th Ave and I-25. Some higher locations along Colorado Blvd north of 136th Ave might be good places as well.
The December 10th eclipse will begin around 5:46am MST as the first part of Earth’s shadow encroaches on the moon. Totality will be achieved at 7:06am MST.
For watchers along the Colorado Front Range, the low moon with the Rocky Mountains to the west will render some extraordinary images. There is however a catch.
The tall mountains on our western horizon are going to limit the time we are able to see the moon and the eclipse. In the Denver area, we won’t actually be able to see the total eclipse as the moon will have disappeared behind the mountains by then.
It is estimated metro area residents will be able to watch the show until about 6:50am at which point the moon will be below the horizon. Clear skies are in the forecast so clouds should not be a concern.
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NASA says that astronomers and psychologists don’t know why the human brain sees the moon as larger when it is low on the horizon. “In fact, a low Moon is no wider than any other Moon (cameras prove it) but the human brain insists otherwise. To observers in the western USA, therefore, the eclipse will appear super-sized,” NASA said.
The celestial show should be worth getting out of bed a bit early to see, even if residents of Colorado won’t get to see the entire show.
Atmospheric scientist Richard Keen of the University of Colorado told NASA, “I expect this eclipse to be bright orange, or even copper-colored, with a possible hint of turquoise at the edge.”
Keen explains that the Earth’s stratosphere is currently relatively free of volcanic dust and other particulates. This should allow for a very bright event.
Tomorrow’s eclipse will be the last total lunar eclipse until April 14, 2014. A second will occur that year on October 8th. In 2015 there will also be two; one on April 4th and another on September 27th.
The total lunar eclipse as seen from Thornton. See more images in the slideshow below. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Late yesterday afternoon the weather didn’t look like it would cooperate and allow viewing of the rare winter solstice lunar eclipse but in the end Mother Nature was generous. Some thin, high clouds cast a bit of a ‘fog’ over the start of the event but those cleared and the view was extraordinary.
According to Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory, the last time a total lunar eclipse coincided with the winter solstice was on December 21, 1638. That is the only other time since the birth of Christ that the conjunction of the two events occurred. For those that live long enough, it won’t be a 372 year wait for the next one however. Chester says December 21, 2094 affords the next chance.
From start to finish the event lasted about 3 1/2 hours with totality lasting a period of 72 minutes. At its peak at 1:17am MST the moon was cast in a burnt orange color as the shadow of the Earth enveloped it.
Lunar eclipses unto themselves are not particularly rare events. Two total lunar eclipses will occur in 2011, one in June and another in December. North America sky watchers however will not be able to see the June event and only part of the December one. The next total lunar eclipse visible in North America occurs on April 15, 2014.
