Mostly clear skies across New Zealand are forecast to provide optimal viewing conditions for a total lunar eclipse early Monday morning. The celestial event will see the Moon pass entirely into Earth’s umbra, or dark shadow, transforming it into a striking reddish hue.
This eclipse offers a rare prospect for stargazers and casual observers alike to witness a dramatic astronomical phenomenon. Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth positions itself between the Sun and Moon, casting a shadow on the lunar surface.While harmless,the event is visually captivating and provides a unique learning experience about our solar system. New zealand is uniquely positioned to view both this lunar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse later this month.The eclipse sequence begins around 3:30 a.m. when the Moon initially enters Earth’s shadow. The period of total eclipse, when the moon is fully immersed and appears red, commences at 5:30 a.m. and lasts until approximately 6:30 a.m., coinciding with moonset.
“If you just want to get a quick glance of the lunar eclipse, the best time is going to be around six in the morning,” explained Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki.
This Monday’s total lunar eclipse is the first of two scheduled to be visible from New Zealand this month. On September 22, a partial solar eclipse will be visible, with New Zealand being one of the few places globally to witness the event.
The lunar eclipse image accompanying this report was captured by Sharon Teh at 5:45 a.m. during a previous lunar event.
