Lunar Eclipse to Occur Thursday Night

If you’re looking for a reason to stay up late this week, we’ve got just the thing. A rare celestial event is about to take place — and you won’t want to miss it.

On Thursday night, a total lunar eclipse will light up the skies, turning the moon a striking blood-red color. This is a phenomenon that occurs when Earth lines up directly between the sun and the full moon, casting the planet’s shadow onto the lunar surface.”

According to NASA during a total lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s darkest shadow, the umbra, and turns a deep red or coppery color.

The eclipse will begin around 11:57 p.m. Thursday, with the partial eclipse starting at 1:09 a.m. Totality — the moment the moon will glow a reddish hue — will begin at 2:26 a.m. and last for about 65 minutes, ending at 3:31 a.m. The entire event wraps up by 6 a.m. Friday morning

And if you’re in the mood to do some stargazing, be sure to check out Jupiter and Mars to the west of the moon. Plus, the moon will be crossing into the constellations Leo and Virgo, so there’s plenty to look at.
However, not all conditions might be perfect for the big event. The National Weather Service predicts partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-40s Thursday night, with a slight chance of rain later in the week. But don’t worry — NASA says the more clouds or dust in the air, the redder the moon will appear.

ff you happen to miss this one, there’s no need to worry. The next total lunar eclipse will happen on September 7th, but it will only be visible in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Your next chance for a total lunar eclipse in the U.S. will be March 3rd, 2026. But even then, it won’t be quite the same as this week’s event.

For more details on the lunar eclipse and other astronomical events, be sure to visit NASA’s website at science.nasa.gov.