Total Lunar Eclipse Viewing

Join the Davis Astronomy Club on the evening of Sunday, May 15, to view the total eclipse of the rising full moon. We will meet at 8pm in the grassy area in Mace Ranch Park between the baseball diamonds (behind Explorit Science Center) so we can have a clear view of the east/southeast horizon.  

For local observers, the rising full moon will already be partially eclipsed as the partial eclipse begins at 7:27pm and moonrise is at 8:05pm. The total eclipse begins at 8:29pm and ends at 9:53pm with maximum eclipse occurring at 9:11pm. During totality, the moon will appear a deep coppery red as it reflects the reddish part of sunlight that is refracted by the earth’s atmosphere. The full moon will be back to its normal view at 10:55pm with the end of the partial eclipse.  

An eclipse occurs when the view of a celestial body is temporarily obscured as it transits through another celestial body’s shadow. During a lunar eclipse, the moon is eclipsed when it passes through the earth’s shadow. This can only occur during the moon’s full phase when the earth is between the sun and the moon in a straight-line alignment, known as synergy of the earth-moon-sun system. 

No special equipment or precautions are needed to watch this spectacular celestial show except clear skies. The next opportunity to view a total lunar eclipse will be in the early morning hours of November 8, 2022.