Skywatchers will experience two tidbits in the next week: A supermoon is associated with a total lunar eclipse for a combination known as the “Super Flower Blood Moon”.
The supermoon will be visible over a couple of nights while the blood moon will be visible early Wednesday morning.
What does “Super Flower Blood Moon” mean?
First the details about the Super Flower Moon:
It is a supermoon, so it appears larger and brighter than typical full moons as the moon is closer to Earth than usual.
Of the different times this happens for a full moon, the flower moon gets its nickname because of the flowers that bloom in May.
The moon turns into a “blood moon” during a total lunar eclipse when the earth’s shadow makes the moon shine reddish or orange. This is sometimes referred to as the “blood moon”.
When should i see it?
The best nights to see the Super Flower Moon are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. The moon rises a little later each night when its phases shift.
Here are the lunar rise times for the Phoenix area:
- On Tuesday the moon rises around 7 p.m. The moon is 99% full.
- On Wednesday the full moon rises at 8:11 p.m.
- On Thursday the moon rises at 9:23 p.m. and is 98% full.
Depending on your location and the buildings and trees around you, it may take 30 to 45 minutes after the moon rises before you can see the moon.
The supermoon turns into a “blood moon” in the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 26th.
Adam Block, who works at the Steward Observatory in the Astronomy Department of the University of Arizona, predicts the best viewing will be on Wednesday from 4:00 am to 5:30 pm.
Just before the sun rises, the moon is in a total solar eclipse on the horizon.
Block said the lighting should be very nice this morning as the moon turns a red-orange color.
Look west to see the moon this morning.
How to photograph the solar eclipse
Supermoons and lunar eclipses are fun because everyone can see them. You don’t need any special equipment, said Kevin Schindler, a historian at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.
If you want to take Eclipse photos, he recommends staying as calm as possible while you are taking pictures. Use a tripod. Or rest your elbows on the hood of your car to stabilize the camera. When you move, the moon looks blurry.
Use a zoom lens to get closer.
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Block recommends setting up the camera early so you have time to practice taking photos. For the best views, try to find an elevated spot, such as a hill or mountain, where you can see the moon as it approaches the horizon.
“This is one thing that is unfolding very slowly,” he said. “So there is no time pressure.”
If your camera has an ISO setting that indicates the camera’s ability to capture light, it recommends a setting from 200 to 400.
What is a lunar eclipse?
Lunar eclipses occur when the earth wanders between the moon and the sun, preventing sunlight from hitting the moon. The entire moon is in the shadow of the earth.
The conditions for a lunar eclipse must be just right. The sun, earth, and moon must be in a straight line, and the moon must be full.
Unlike a solar eclipse, lunar eclipses can be viewed with the naked eye and don’t require eye protection, Schindler said.
If you don’t want to go outdoors, the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff will be streaming a live lunar eclipse on its website starting at 2:30 a.m. on May 26th. You can see views of the solar eclipse through the observatory’s telescopes and learn about the science behind the eclipses. The live stream can be viewed here.
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8072. Follow her on Twitter @anneryman.
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