CINCINNATI -- Sunday's full moon will be one that's worth staying up late for. The full harvest moon is also a super moon. In addition to that, a lunar eclipse will occur. It's something we won't see again until 2033. Here's everything you need to know about seeing this event locally and the times to watch!
MORE: A lunar event you won't see again until 2033
What does a lunar eclipse look like?
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly behind the Earth and into its shadow. The Sun, Earth and moon must all be aligned for this to occur.
As you can see in the image above from MrEclipse.com, the eclipse begins as a shadow starts to cover part of the moon. Then, it will almost look like the moon is gone from our view. But that's when the magic of this event really unfold. The moon will then appear full again but it will have a orange coloring. The moon should have this orange hue for a little over an hour. Then, the transition bad to the shadowed phase begins before the moon is full and white again.
What time will this happen in the Tri-State?
- 9:07 p.m. - The beginning stages of the lunar eclipse begins. The shadow over the moon begins
- 10:11 p.m. The moon begins to turn orange
- 10:47 p.m. - The moon is at is maximum orange hue
- 11:25 p.m. - The orange hue over the moon will end. The moon then disappears for a few minutes before a small sliver of the moon is visible
- 2:30 a.m. - The final stages of the eclipse ends and the moon appears full and white again
Lunar eclipses typically last for a few hours, and this eclipse will be visible in its entirety across the eastern half of the United States.
Will the forecast allow us to see it?
The forecast for Sunday evening currently calls for mostly cloudy conditions. This could cover up a lot of our sky and limit out ability to see this. Keep checking back on the forecast for any changes. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the clouds break up a bit more.
A lot of sky viewing events require that you get away from city lights to be able to see it. This is NOT the case on Sunday. Whether you live in Cincinnati or out on a small, rural farm, this event will be visible.
And where do you look? Look to the eastern sky as this event begins and then follow the moons path southeast with time.
