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How to view this Tuesday's total lunar eclipse in LA. That's when Earth turns the moon 'blood' red
A Super Blue Blood Moon hovers over Los Angeles in 2018.
(
Frederic J. Brown
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Topline:
A total lunar eclipse is happening this Tuesday. That's when the earth will move directly between the sun and moon, casting a “blood” red color onto the moon.
What: It's going to be the first lunar eclipse of the year. The process is slated to start around midnight and last until dawn on Tuesday. It’s called the “Blood Moon” because of the red hue the earth’s atmosphere refracts onto the lunar surface as light from the sun passes through it.
When: Although the eclipse begins around midnight, it won’t reach totality until 3:04 a.m., at which point it will be visible to the naked eye for about an hour. All of Southern California should be able to see it.
Tips: It's alway best to view from an area where light is minimal. NASA recommends using binoculars with a magnification of at least 7 to see the actual terrain on the moon's surface. A telescope will give you even great detail, of course, but may make it harder to see the moon it it's entirety.
How else can I watch: The Griffith Observatory will be hosting a live virtual broadcast of the celestial event from midnight to dawn.
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What's next: This isn’t the only lunar eclipse happening this year, but it is the only “total eclipse,” according to NASA. Another one is set to occur in August, but it will only be partially visible in North America. A solar eclipse will occur Aug. 12.
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