Blood Moon to Illuminate New Zealand skies This Morning
New Zealanders will be treated to a notable celestial display this morning as a total lunar eclipse, also known as a blood moon, rises across the country. The eclipse will begin shortly after 8:30 PM and reach its peak around 10:15 PM, transforming the moon into a reddish hue.
This is the second blood moon visible in New Zealand this year, following an eclipse in March. While lunar eclipses are relatively common, offering a safe and easily observable astronomical event, they remain a captivating sight for skywatchers.Before this year, the most recent blood moon occurred in 2022. Aoraki,speaking to the herald,recommends viewing the eclipse from an elevated spot with a clear,unobstructed view of the West for the ultimate experience.
The reddish color occurs as sunlight is refracted through Earth’s atmosphere and onto the moon’s surface. The extent of the red hue depends on the amount of dust and clouds in Earth’s atmosphere.
Looking ahead, stargazers won’t have to wait long for another celestial event. On September 22, a partial solar eclipse will be visible, with the moon expected to block around 60% of the sun’s disc in Auckland and up to 70% in the South Island. Unlike lunar eclipses, solar eclipses require proper eye protection – solar viewing glasses are essential for safe viewing as the sun will not be fully obscured. This eclipse will be particularly notable, as Kiwis haven’t seen a solar eclipse “of this magnitude” as 2012, when approximately 85% of the sun was blocked. The solar eclipse will begin as the sun rises just after 6am, appearing as a crescent, and will end shortly after 8am.
