On the night of Sunday, May 15th, 2022, a total lunar eclipse will take place. This will be the first time in more than three years that North Carolina will get a chance to experience a total lunar eclipse.
You might have heard it called the Super Flower Blood Moon. Read on to learn what each of these descriptors means.
A lunar eclipse is when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up in a way that the full moon travels through the Earth’s shadow.
Read on to learn about how and when to view the total lunar eclipse, and about some lunar eclipse viewing parties in Raleigh and Durham.
When will the lunar eclipse take place?
The event takes place over several hours. Here on the East Coast, this is the schedule for this celestial event:
May 15th, 10:28 p.m.: Partial eclipse begins
May 15th, 11:29 p.m.: Total eclipse begins
May 16th, 12:11 a.m.: Maximum eclipse
May 16th, 12:54 a.m.: Total eclipse ends
May 16th, 1:55 a.m.: Partial eclipse ends
What does the lunar eclipse look like?
As the moon passes through the shadow of the earth, it will turn red. As this happens, you’ll see that the earth’s shadow is curved. When the eclipse is total, it will look like a dark red hole in the sky.
Is it hard to see the lunar eclipse?
It’s easy! You don’t need totally clear skies, but if it’s extremely cloudy you might have trouble. Currently the forecast is for some cloudy skies on Sunday night, but hopefully it won’t be too cloudy.
You don’t need telescopes, although it can be fun to get a close-up look through a telescope or binoculars. And you don’t need special viewing glasses, like you would for a solar eclipse, because there’s no danger in looking directly at the moon at any phase.
In North Carolina the moon will be about one third of the way from the horizon — either the southern or southeastern horizon. So if you have a dense tree cover to the south, you might want to find a more open spot.
Are there groups watching the lunar eclipse together?
Here in the Triangle, there are two opportunities to watch the lunar eclipse with others. Both are free events.
Skywatching at Dix Park: Staff and volunteers from the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society (CHAOS), and Raleigh Astronomy Club (RAC) are leading a skywatching session at Dix Park. Look through telescopes, facilitated by Morehead staff and dedicated volunteers, at a the eclipse and other objects in the sky. Bring a blanket or chairs so that you can relax under the stars. Please leave pets at home. Sunday, May 15th, 2022, starting at 9:30 p.m. Dix Park, 1010 Blair Drive, Raleigh. To set the stage, the Triangle Sax Ensemble will be playing music!
Stargazing at West Point on the Eno: Starting at 11 p.m., a gather at West Point on the Eno to watch the lunar eclipse together. 4101 N. Roxboro Street, Durham.
Why is called the Super Flower Blood Moon?
Super moon: A “supermoon” is when the full moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. Because it’s closer to Earth the moon, at this stage, looks larger.
Blood moon: Because the moon appears red during a lunar eclipse it’s called a “blood moon.”
Flower moon: May’s full moon is always referred to as the flower moon because it’s the time of year when flowers start to bloom.
What are the other months’ full moons called?
Each month’s full moon has a nickname. This nickname has nothing to do with the moon’s appearance. It’s about what’s happening here on Earth.
January: Wolf Moon (Because wolves howl a lot during this time. Also called the Cold Moon and Spirit Moon.)
February: Snow Moon (Because it snows a lot in February. Also called the Hunger Moon.)
March: Worm Moon (Because earthworms appear. Also called the Sap Moon.)
April: Pink Moon (Because phlox, one of the first spring flowers, appear. Also called the Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon and Fish Moon.)
May: Flower Moon (Because of the abundance of flowers. Also called the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon.)
June: Strawberry Moon (Because of strawberries. Also called the Rose Moon and the Hot Moon.)
July: Buck Moon (Because bucks’ antlers are in full growth mode. Also called the Thunder Moon.)
August: Sturgeon Moon (Sturgeons are most easily caught this month. Also called the Green Corn Moon.)
September: Corn Moon (Corn harvesting time. Also called the Barley Moon.)
October: Hunter’s Moon (Good time for hunting. Also called the Travel Moon and the Dying Moon.)
November: Beaver Moon (For colonists and indigenous tribes it was time to set beaver traps. Also called the Frost Moon.)
December: Cold Moon (Because it’s cold. Also called the Long Nights Moon.)
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Skywatching in the Triangle
Interested in getting started with skywatching? Check out our guide to skywatching in the Triangle, including where to go, what to look for, local resources and more. Or find a few upcoming events here:
Various locations
