“Beaver Blood Moon” – Last chance to see the total lunar eclipse until 2025!

On November 8, astronomers will have the opportunity to see a total lunar eclipse for the second time in 2022. At least part of the phenomenon will be visible throughout eastern Asia, Australia, the Pacific and North America . The last total lunar eclipse was in May.

According to Alphonse Sterling, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, total lunar eclipses occur about once every 1.5 years on average. Although the Moon has provided generous eclipse viewing opportunities this year, viewers should take advantage of the November eclipse as the next total lunar eclipse won’t occur until 2025.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth casts a full shadow – called a shadow – on the Moon. Earth’s shadow is divided into two parts: the umbra, the innermost part of the shadow where direct sunlight is completely blocked, and the penumbra, the outermost part of the shadow where the light is partially blocked.

When the Moon is in shadow, it takes on a reddish hue. Lunar eclipses are sometimes called “Blood Moons” because of this phenomenon. November’s full moon is known as Beaver Moon (also called Frost or Frosty Moon, or Snow Moon), making it a “Beaver Blood Moon.”

During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon and the Sun are on opposite sides of the Earth. Many people wonder why lunar eclipses don’t occur every month given that the Moon orbits the Earth every 27 days. The reason for this is that the Moon’s orbit around the Earth is inclined with respect to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, so the Moon often passes above or below the Earth’s shadow. . Lunar eclipses are only possible when the orbits align so that the Moon is directly behind the Earth relative to the Sun.

For North America, the action will begin in the wee hours of November 8th. The partial eclipse will begin at 3:09 a.m. CST, with totality beginning at 4:16 a.m. and ending at 5:42 a.m. Then, the partial eclipse phase will resume, until 6:49 a.m. Those in the eastern part of the United States will miss most or all of the last partial phase because the Moon will set during totality or shortly after totality ends.

Another characteristic of a total lunar eclipse is the red hue of the Moon during totality. The red color occurs due to the refraction, filtering and scattering of light by Earth’s atmosphere. Scattering is a phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering – named after the 19th century British physicist Lord Rayleigh.

Rayleigh scattering is also the cause of red sunrises and sunsets. Sunlight collides with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere and due to its shorter wavelength, blue light is filtered out, but red light is not easily scattered due to its shorter wavelength. longer wave. Some of this red light is refracted, or bent, as it passes through Earth’s atmosphere and eventually shines on the Moon with a ghostly red light. The degree of redness of a fully eclipsed Moon can be influenced by atmospheric conditions resulting from volcanic eruptions, fires, and dust storms.

But what does Earth look like from the Moon’s perspective during a lunar eclipse? Astronauts on the moon during a total lunar eclipse would see a red ring around a silhouette of Earth, according to Marshall astrophysicist Mitzi Adams. As[{” attribute=””>NASA works to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon through the Artemis program, it’s fascinating to consider how Earthlings will experience astronomical events away from their home planet.

No special eye protection is needed for viewing a lunar eclipse, unlike solar eclipses (which occur during the daytime). While the lunar eclipse can be observed with the unaided eye, a pair of binoculars or a telescope can enhance the view.

Sterling says a fun activity for those who stargaze with family or friends is to discuss who notices the reddish hue of totality first and how it progresses throughout the eclipse.

Gain more understanding of lunar eclipses, learn about NASA’s observations of eclipses, and inspire young stargazers with activities and information.

Finally, if you want to know what else is happening as you watch the skies in November, check out Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s latest “What’s Up” video:

A total lunar eclipse brings some magic to the morning sky on November 8, and the Leonid meteors peak after midnight on November 18, with some highlights from a 35% full moon. Plus, enjoy pretty views on other days in November when the Moon visits the planets[{” attribute=””>Mars and

Happy skywatching!