How to view this week’s total lunar eclipse in San Antonio

South Texas will experience a total lunar eclipse, sometimes called a “blood moon” — where the moon turns red during totality — and depending on your sleep habits, you can catch it either late at night or very early in the morning this week.

What is a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the moon, casting a shadow on it.

During a total lunar eclipse, the moon turns reddish as sunlight filters through Earth’s atmosphere. This light bends, removing blue tones and allowing red and orange sh ades to reach the moon’s surface.

Lunar eclipses, including the upcoming “worm blood moon” in the early morning hours of March 14, are visible around the world.

A total lunar eclipse happens about once every 2.5 years at any given location. While eclipses occur 4 to 7 times a year, total ones make up about 29%.

FORECAST:

There will be a few wispy cirrus clouds that could pass in front of the moon from time-to-time, but you still should be able to view totality. You do not need any special equipment to view a total lunar eclipse, and it’ll be visible with the naked eye. Just look south. Totality and the reddish hue will be visible from 12:26 a.m. to 2:31 a.m. early Friday morning.

Why is it called a ‘worm moon?’

The March full moon is called the “worm moon.” It is supposed to signify the melting of snow and arrival of spring and was given by various Native American tribes. Other names it is also referred to include the sore eyes moon, eagle moon, the sugar moon, the wind strong moon, the crow comes back moon and the goose moon.

Why does the moon look red?

When the moon enters Earth’s darkest shadow (the umbra), the light passing through Earth’s atmosphere gives it a red hue, much like the colors at sunrise or sunset. More dust or clouds in the atmosphere make the moon appear even redder.

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