Today at 9:16 am by topspin2
Sun, Earth and Moon line up perfectly in sky to dazzle skywatchers. Stargazers will be treated' to three lunar events in May, including the rare 'Super Flower Blood Moon' Lunar Eclipse which is expected to happen on May 15-16, 2022. The Full Flower Moon Going by the seasons, as the second full Moon of spring, the Native American tribes of the northeastern United States called this the Flower Moon, as flowers are abundant this time of year in most of these areas. Supermoon This month's Full Moon is also a Supermoon. A Supermoon occurs when the Full Moon is at the closest point of its orbit to the Earth, which is also called perigee. That makes the Moon look extra-close and extra bright. Blood Moon It's also a Blood Moon. That is just the reddish color the Moon will appear during the total lunar eclipse. Indeed, the Moon won't turn black or vanish from the sky, instead will appear to be a "reddish copper color." Although the Moon is in Earth's shadow, some sunlight still reaches the Moon. The sunlight passes through Earth's atmosphere which causes our atmosphere to filter out most of the blue light. Some sunlight reaches the Earth's atmosphere, which envelops the Moon and gives it the rich color. Together those create the 'Super Flower Blood Moon Eclipse." The event will be visible across the Americas, Europe, and Africa – basically anywhere the Moon is above the horizon at the time. The visible part of the eclipse begins about 10:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern time on May 15th, with totality starting an hour later and lasting for about an hour and a half. Those in the Eastern U.S. will see the eclipse start with the Moon well above the horizon. For the Central U.S., the eclipse starts about an hour and a half after dark, with the Moon relatively low in the sky. On the West coast of the U.S., the Moon rises with totality beginning or already underway, so you'll want to find a clear view toward the southeast if viewing from there. Now, lunar eclipses are the ones that are safe to look at directly with your eyes, binoculars, or a telescope (unlike solar eclipses). Stay Tuned!
https://youtu.be/r2Hn-_B5CCU
