Lunar eclipse: Where are the eclipse-supermoon viewing parties?
The total lunar eclipse this upcoming聽Sunday聽has viewers anticipating where they will watch the astronomical spectacle.
But this isn鈥檛 just any lunar eclipse 鈥� it is a 鈥淪upermoon lunar eclipse.鈥�
Both Supermoons and lunar eclipses occur separately, but what makes聽this Sunday聽so special, is that the two events coincide. This coincidence hasn鈥檛 happened since 1982, and it won鈥檛 occur again until 2033.
This means that the moon will be big, and it will be red.
A bit of red sunlight is able to reach the moon, even though it is completely in the Earth鈥檚 shadow. 鈥淭he reason the moon can be seen at all when totally eclipsed is that sunlight is scattered and refracted around the edge of the Earth by the planet鈥檚 atmosphere,鈥� explains聽聽with Space.com. And the moon appears red because it is 鈥渙utlined by a brilliant red ring of all the world鈥檚 sunrises and sunsets.鈥� Along with the color, NASA reports that the moon will appear 14 percent larger than normal.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no physical difference in the moon,鈥� NASA scientist聽聽said in a statement. 鈥淚t just appears slightly bigger in the sky. It鈥檚 not dramatic, but it does look larger.鈥�
And the US is in a perfect聽聽to view the eclipse, compared to other countries such as China, India and Russia who will not get any view of the rare supermoon lunar eclipse. The only state that won鈥檛 get any view at all is Hawaii.
To celebrate, viewing parties have been organized across the country.
In Chicago, the聽Adler Planetarium in Chicago and Conway Observatory in Lowell, Ill. are two places where telescopes and knowledgeable astronomy enthusiasts will be on hand to offer insights and an up-close perspective of the eclipse,
The Adler will have telescopes outdoors and Adler volunteers will be there as well as a number of telescopes and folks from three local astronomy clubs: the Chicago Astronomical Society, Naperville Astronomical Association and the Northwest Suburban Astronomers. The outdoor viewing is free.
Th Adler Planetarium Lunar Eclipse Viewing Party runs from 7 to 11:30 p.m. local time Sunday.
Some of many viewing parties on the east coast include one hosted by Western Carolina University (WCU) at the聽聽in Sylva, N.C., and one hosted by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassador Greg Redfern at the聽聽in Charlottesville, Va.
Astronomy faculty from WCU will set up telescopes for the public to use. There will also be participatory activities at the Virginia viewing, including a presentation before the eclipse to explain sky lore and mysteries by NASA鈥檚 Redfern. Both events are free and open to all.
Spectators of all ages are invited to join the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department and the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri to view the rare eclipse at聽聽in Wentzville, Mo.
And on the West coast,聽聽in Los Angeles will celebrate with live classical music and The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will host a viewing party at the聽.
Although similar viewing parties are taking place throughout the US, the views seen by participants will differ.
聽reports that viewers in the eastern half of North America will be able to see every stage of the eclipse. But in the western half of the states, the eclipse will have already begun by the time the moon rises in the east at sunset.聽
