Weather permitting, the full moon will appear blood red Sunday evening during the year’s first total lunar eclipse.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly and completely into the dark inner shadow, or umbra, cast by the Earth. During this activity, 100% of the round disk of the full moon slowly moves into the dark shadow, and the bright moon — usually milky white — grows dim.
The moon does not, however, become completely dark. Instead, it usually glows with a copper or red color, a result of sunlight being filtered and bent through the Earth’s atmosphere.
The lunar eclipse will be visible throughout Southern California and may be seen easily with the unaided eye, though telescopes or binoculars to enhance the view.
Griffith Observatory is hosting an online broadcast of the eclipse on its YouTube channel Sunday from 7:35 to 11:50 p.m., if skies are clear. The Observatory will also be open to the public for on-site public viewing. Both the Observatory and Griffith Park will close, as usual, at 10 p.m.
For more information, see Griffith Observatory’s website, https://griffithobservatory.
