Another eclipse of the moon will occur just before sunrise Saturday, April 4, 2015. There are some things you need to know to have a chance at seeing the eclipse. First off, the weather looks like it will cooperate to see a lunar eclipse. Clouds and precipitation will occur late Friday, and move quickly east just after midnight. The sky should be mostly clear to entirely clear in the Lower Peninsula. As you go west in the U.P. it will be more cloudy. So at least most of us have a shot at seeing the lunar eclipse.
The biggest problem with seeing the lunar eclipse early Saturday morning is the sun will be coming up as the lunar eclipse proceeds to totality. The other issue is the moon will be setting below the horizon as the eclipse gets more visible. That means you have to wake up on time, and be ready to look. The eclipse will begin around 6:15 a.m. Saturday morning here in Michigan. The eclipse will continue to develop through 6:30 a.m. and even up to 7:00 a.m. The problem is the sky will be getting brighter and the moon getting lower. At some point toward 7:00 a.m. you won’t be able to see the eclipse.
The total eclipse of the moon occurs at 7:54 a.m. eastern. The moon will long be below the horizon here in Michigan. The western parts of the U.S. will have a good view of the total eclipse. You have to be outside looking at the moon at 6:15 a.m to see the eclipse. You also have to be in the right spot. The moon will be setting on the west-southwest horizon. We will need to have a clear, tree-less view of the western horizon. The Lake Michigan shoreline would be a great place to view the eclipse.
Is this a ‘blood moon?’ I talked to Richard Walker, long-time astronomer at Flint’s Longway Planetarium. He said astronomers don’t have such a term as a ‘blood moon.’ According to Walker, every lunar eclipse can have a red tint. The shadow of the earth casting on the moon always gives a reddish hue. Some eclipses may be more red, depending on what is going on in the atmosphere. If there is a lot of water vapor, dust or volcanic ash in the air at the time of the eclipse, the lunar eclipse would be more red.
Walker does agree that the total lunar eclipse coming on September 27, 2015 could be much better viewing for Michiganders. The September eclipse will occur in the evening, and Michigan will be able to see the total lunar eclipse. That’s if Mother Nature accommodates with clear skies.