Time to Go Camping – We Have a Lunar Eclipse Coming Up!

The entire lunar eclipse sequence, captured from 2014-2015. The cover photo is a snapshot from the lunar eclipse in 2007. Both photos from Flickr.

If you’re planning on being in North America, South America, Asia or Australia on March 23 this year, you’re in luck! The Penumbral Lunar Eclipse will be visible for 1 night, peaking at 5:47 AM Mountain time. Check out the Time and Date website to find the best viewing hour of the eclipse from your neck of the woods!

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A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind the Earth into its umbra (shadow). This can occur only when the sun, Earth and moon are aligned (in "syzygy") exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, this rare event can only occur on the night of a full moon!

For those of you in a big city, there’s still time to plan a sweet camping trip to escape the light pollution. Far from the skyscrapers and 24/7 lumens, you'll get a much clearer view of the red moon! It’s definitely worth it. After all, we won’t see one in these parts again until February of next year!