KUSA – The Earth's shadow will crawl across the moon in the early morning hours on Tuesday, turning it red.
The total lunar eclipse is scheduled to begin just after 10 p.m. Monday, with the full shadow of earth covering the moon just after 1 a.m. Tuesday.
The moon will be a bloody red or copper color due to refraction of sunlight by the Earth's atmosphere.
As long as the sky is clear and your view of the moon isn't blocked, you will be able to watch the eclipse without any special equipment. If you want a little more clarity you can use binoculars or a telescope.
If you want to photograph the eclipse, many photographers say having a tripod is as important as having the right lens. If you take any photos or video you'd like to be featured by 9NEWS, you can upload them here: http://on9news.tv/yourtake. You can also share them with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Here are articles with advice on how best to photograph the eclipse.
- wikiHow.com: How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipsehttp://on9news.tv/1sOiDVT
- PhotoNaturalist.com: How To Photograph the Upcoming Lunar Eclipsehttp://on9news.tv/QeQ7xF
- SPACE.com: How to Observe the Moon: Tips to See 2014's First Lunar Eclipsehttp://on9news.tv/1kDrKrh
- MrEclipse.com: How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipsehttp://on9news.tv/1hHCOMb
- Photographylife.com: How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipsehttp://on9news.tv/1hHCOMb
This lunar eclipse is the first of four expected over the next two years. This grouping of four total lunar eclipses in a relatively short time is known as a tetrad. Some Christian groups believe tetrads are associated with significant religious events, including some believing the end of the world is near.
Many astronomers don't see the series of lunar eclipses as telling signs of our future.
Here are resources and recent articles on the blood moon:
- NationalGeographic.com: Viewing Guide: Watch Moon Turn Red During Total Lunar Eclipsehttp://on9news.tv/1lWrJhN
- NASA Eclipse website: http://on9news.tv/1etbYwM
- Earthsky.org: What is a Blood Moon?http://on9news.tv/1lWr7ss
- USAToday.com: Blood moon eclipse on April 15 is a special eventhttp://on9news.tv/1mNldu3
- ChristianToday.com: Four Blood Moons and Opposition of Planets 2014 the 'End of Days' prophesy? NASA says lunar tetrad is unusualhttp://on9news.tv/1n1CsHY
(KUSA-TV © 2014 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)
