What you need to know about the ‘super flower blood moon,’ and how to see it in Charlotte
Break out your telescope and start thinking about your favorite spots for stargazing: a total lunar eclipse means you’ll have a chance to see a blood moon this weekend.
The “super flower blood moon,” as it has been dubbed, will give many around the world the chance to see a total lunar eclipse coinciding with other phenomena, a rare experience. And, weather permitting, Charlotte is in the range for impressive views Sunday night and into the wee hours of Monday morning.
Here’s what to know about the blood moon and what to expect in the skies above the Charlotte region.
What is a super flower blood moon?
The “super flower blood moon” is not one thing but rather three celestial events occurring at the same time.
The first is a “supermoon,” which NASA describes as a full moon that looks bigger than a normal full moon “because it’s a bit closer to Earth.”
The term “flower moon” is used by the Old Farmer’s Almanac to describe a full moon that happens in May, a reference to the way “flowers spring forth across North America in abundance this month” that has its roots in Native American culture.
And “blood moon” is a colloquial name for a total lunar eclipse that comes from the reddish hue that appears on the moon during the eclipse.
“During a total lunar eclipse, Earth lines up between the Moon and the Sun. This hides the Moon from the sunlight,” NASA says. “When this happens, the only light that reaches the Moon’s surface is from the edges of the Earth’s atmosphere. The air molecules from Earth’s atmosphere scatter out most of the blue light. The remaining light reflects onto the Moon’s surface with a red glow, making the Moon appear red in the night sky.”
All three things are supposed to happen simultaneously Sunday night, creating a unique experience for stargazers.
Is it safe to look at a lunar eclipse?
A total lunar eclipse may provoke memories of when many in the Carolinas scrambled to get protective eyewear so they could see the total solar eclipse of August 2017, but you won’t need safety glasses to look at Sunday’s phenomenon.
“You don’t need any special equipment to observe a lunar eclipse,” NASA says, “although binoculars or a telescope will enhance the view and the red color.”
How to see the blood moon from North Carolina
If the weather cooperates, North Carolinians looking to the sky have a good chance of seeing what the “super flower blood moon” has to offer, according to NASA.
“The eastern half of the United States and all of South America will have the opportunity to see every stage of the lunar eclipse,” the agency says. “Totality will be visible in much of Africa, western Europe, Central and South America, and most of North America.”
The early stages of the eclipse are expected to begin at 9:32 p.m. Sunday, per NASA, with totality being reached at 11:29 p.m. and lasting for more than an hour.
Sunday’s National Weather Service forecast puts the chance of precipitation in Charlotte Sunday night at 30%, calling for partly cloudy skies and “a chance of thunderstorms before 8 p.m.”
If you can’t go outside to get a view yourself, you can tune in to NASA’s livestream, which will feature views from locations around the world and expert commentary. The stream will air on NASA’s website and YouTube and Facebook pages from 11 p.m. to midnight Sunday.
You can also send questions to NASA’s experts on social media using #askNASA.
This story was originally published May 12, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
