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A Total Lunar Eclipse Will Be Visible in the US and Canada This Month

News Astronomy
by Olivia Harden May 4, 2021

May 26 will be rich in astronomical events. Not only will there be an entire lunar eclipse, but there will also be a supermoon for everyone to see.

The lunar eclipse will last three hours in total, but it’s the 15 minutes of total phase, when the moon turns red, that will be the most impressive. The colorful phenomenon is also called a “super blood moon” and happens when the earth lines up between the moon and the sun, filtering the sun’s light through its atmosphere. The light that reflects off the moon’s surface is then a beautiful shade of red.

Not everyone will have the best look at the total lunar eclipse. People in Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and most of Australia will be able to admire an entire lunar eclipse. The total phase of the eclipse will also be visible in parts of North America, such as western Canada, Alaska, the western United States, and Mexico. Check out NASA’s map and animation of the eclipse’s path to know if you’ll be able to see the spectacle from home and at what time.

Even if you don’t live on the eclipse’s path, you can still look up at the sky to check out the supermoon (without the red glow) — a full moon that appears seven percent larger than normal.

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