On Sunday night, May’s full moon will have stargazers seeing red. This year’s first total lunar eclipse will have the moon glowing scarlet rather than its normal milky white sheen.
A partial eclipse of the moon will begin at 10:27 p.m. (eastern time) Sunday, with the total eclipse beginning at 11:29 p.m.. The total eclipse will end at 12:53 a.m. Monday morning. A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon, earth, and sun align and the moon passes through the darkest part of the earth’s shadow.
When the sun’s rays reach the Earth, much of the blue and green light is scattered, while the orange and red colors remain visible, which is why the moon turns a reddish hue and is often referred to as the “blood moon,” according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
For optimal viewing conditions, avoid bright lights and tall buildings that could obstruct your view, he said.
