The sky could look a little red in the overnight hours as a blood moon casts a crimson color over the United States.
The moon going into Friday morning will undergo a rare total lunar eclipse, which is when the sun, moon, and Earth align. A total eclipse only occurs when the moon passes into Earth’s shadow.
Recommended Stories
- SpaceX Crew 10 launch scrubbed after 'hydraulic ground issue'
- Ohio lawmakers urge NASA to move headquarters to 'ideal' Cleveland location
- Hegseth wishes 'godspeed' to SpaceX-NASA mission to bring stranded astronauts home
Here’s what to know about viewing it.
What time does the lunar eclipse start tonight?
The first phase of the eclipse, called the “penumbral eclipse,” will start at 11:57 p.m. on Thursday night.
The partial eclipse will begin at 1:09 a.m. on Friday as the moon grows darker and more red.
Totality will occur at 2:26 a.m., which will see the moon turn a copper red. The most complete eclipse will occur at 2:59 a.m. until totality ends at 3:31 a.m.
The eclipse will then progress into a partial event by 4:10 a.m. and then will end by around 6 a.m.
How to watch the total lunar eclipse live
You can go outside to watch it with your own eyes or use binoculars or a telescope to enhance your view. NASA says a “dark environment away from bright lights makes for the best viewing conditions.”
You may also watch the eclipse on YouTube with a variety of sources, including timeanddate.com’s stream.
How rare is the eclipse and when is the next one?
This particular eclipse is the first one of its kind since November 2022 and the only lunar eclipse that can be viewed in the U.S. for 2025.
TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
A total lunar eclipse will be visible to some people in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia on Sept. 7.
The next total eclipse visible to the U.S. will occur next year on March 3.