Eclipse will be shortest of century, feature a ‘blood moon’
They say the early bird gets the worm, but in this case, it’s the blood moon on Saturday.
Skywatchers in Western North America will be treated to a total lunar eclipse just before sunrise. The event will start at 3:16 a.m. PST and will continue to move into Earth’s shadow for an hour and 45 minutes, USA Today reports.
The total eclipse will happen at 4:58 a.m. But there’s a catch — it will only last four minutes and 43 seconds, the shortest of the century, according to NASA.
Unlike solar eclipses, it is safe to stare directly at this one.
A partial eclipse will be visible to the rest of the continent, but Las Vegas’ location is perfect for viewing.
The so-called “blood moon” happens when the moon moves into the shadow caused by the sun. Because of the Earth’s atmosphere, the moon turns a deep red color.
This eclipse is the third in a series of four, called a “tetrad.” The first occurred on the Eastern half of the world on April 15, 2014. The second was in October, and the fourth — and final of the series — will be on September 28.
Contact Kristen DeSilva at 702-477-3895 or kdesilva@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @kristendesilva
