Is it a full moon tonight? When to watch the 'Blood Moon' in US and Australia

Is it a full moon tonight? A 'Blood Moon' occurs when a total lunar eclipse happens during a full moon, causing the Moon to appear reddish due to Earth’s shadow. In the United States and Australia, Blood Moon viewing times vary by time zone and location. In the US, the eclipse is usually best seen late at night or early morning, while in Australia it often appears during evening or early night hours.

WHAT IS A BLOOD MOON?

Lunar eclipses come in different types, depending on how far the Moon moves into Earth’s shadow, which includes a dark inner region called the umbra and a lighter outer region known as the penumbra. A total lunar eclipse happens when the Moon fully enters the umbra. Most direct sunlight is blocked, but red light filtered through Earth’s atmosphere reaches the Moon, giving it a deep, reddish glow.


WHEN TO WATCH THE 'BLOOD MOON' IN US AND AUSTRALIA

According to New York Times, skywatchers across North and Central America and along the western edge of South America can observe the lunar eclipse early Tuesday morning, while viewers in East Asia and Australia will see it Tuesday evening. The eclipse is visible to the naked eye, though NASA advises watching from a dark location away from city lights. The event unfolds in stages, as reported by New York Times, beginning at 3:44 AM ET as the Moon enters Earth’s penumbra and gently dims. By 4:50 AM, it moves into the darker umbra, with more of the Moon appearing shadowed. Totality starts at 6:04 AM, producing a vivid blood moon for nearly an hour.

Lunar eclipses unfold slowly over several hours. Here, the Moon takes 75 minutes to enter Earth’s shadow, turns red for an hour during totality, then needs another 75 minutes to fully brighten again. When it comes to Australia, this time the eclipse occurs at a convenient hour, so there’s no need to set an alarm or drag yourself out of bed at an ungodly time. In Sydney, the eclipse will be visible from 10:04 to 11:02 PM AEDT. Across the rest of Australia, the eclipse will begin later in the evening, with the Moon appearing in the eastern sky.