Sky watchers in southeast Kansas will have the chance to watch a total lunar eclipse early Tuesday morning.
A lunar eclipse takes place when the full moon slips in to the shadow of the Earth. The past few lunar eclipses we have enjoyed have taken place in the evening sky but Tuesday’s eclipse will be an early morning show.
The eclipse will begin at 3:09 a.m. Tuesday morning. By then the moon will be in the west southwestern sky and it will still be fairly high in the sky.
Slowly, the moon will slip in to the dark shadow of the Earth.
Totality begins at 4:17, when the Moon is fully covered in shadow. Mid-eclipse is set for 4:59. Totality will last until 5:42.
By then the Moon will get lower in the western sky.
From 5:42 to 6:50, the moon will leave the Earth’s shadow and reclaim it’s spot as the brightest object in the night sky, but by then night will be over, with sunrise at 6:53, about 10 minutes before the moon sets.
As the moon slips into the Earth’s shadow it will glow in a red or rusty color. You might also see a slight blue sliver between the dark red and the bright silver color of the Moon that is not yet in the shadow.
LUNAR eclipses are safe to watch and something everyone can enjoy. All you will need is an open part of the sky with no trees and your eyes. Binoculars will help you see the colors of the eclipsed Moon even more vividly.
This eclipse will take place near one of the larger open star clusters in our sky. The Pleiades Star Cluster will be just to the left of the eclipsed Moon.
During totality it will be easier to see the Pleiades and do try your binoculars on this star cluster. With your naked eye you will be able to see 5 or 6 stars of the Pleiades but with binoculars you will see dozens of stars. Also look further to the left of the Moon and see if you can find a bright red “star.” It will be easy to locate because it is so bright, and red. That is not a star, it is Mars.
This will be an historic eclipse too. This will be the first total lunar eclipse on an election day.
Note: Mike Myer, Humboldt, is an avid astronomer eager to share updates about upcoming celestial events.
