See And Photograph The Total Lunar Eclipse

Are you ready for Tuesday’s total lunar eclipse?

A total lunar eclipse with a “Blood Moon” totality lasting 85 minutes is coming to North America on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 for the last time until 2025. Here’s everything you need to know—when to see it from where you are, how to photograph it and where to livestream it online.

It’s a celestial event lasting over five hours during which our satellite will drift into, then out of Earth’s shadow in space. As it reaches its center it will turn a reddish-copper color. It’s visible to everyone in North America, the Pacific and East Asia. Most astronomers will tell you that its best seen in western North America, where it will be seen in its entirety.

All you’re going to need are clear skies and wide eyes … oh, and either an alarm clock or the ability to stay up very late.

Here’s everything you need to make the most from the “Beaver Blood Moon” total lunar eclipse:

When to see the ‘Blood Moon’ total lunar eclipse

The total lunar eclipse is a global event. Here’s the celestial schedule for North America on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

Go outside between these times to see with your own naked eyes as the full Moon turns a strange-looking reddish hue:

• 5:17- 6:42 a.m. EST on Tuesday, 8 November, 2022 (peak totality at 5:59 a.m. EST)
• 4:17- 5:42 a.m. CST on Tuesday, 8 November, 2022 (peak totality at 4:59 a.m. CST)
• 3:17- 4:42 a.m. MST on Tuesday, 8 November, 2022 (peak totality at 3:59 a.m. MST)
• 2:17- 3:42 a.m. PST on Tuesday, 8 November, 2022 (peak totality at 2:59 a.m. PST)
• 00:17- 1:42 a.m. HST on Tuesday, 8 November, 2022 (peak totality at 00:59 a.m. HST)

Where to livestream the ‘Blood Moon’ total lunar eclipse

There are so many fake livestreams on YouTube that show any old junk that could easily be a previous eclipse or something even less relevant. Here are three very reliable channels to watch coverage of the total lunar eclipse from around the world:

How to photograph the ‘Blood Moon’ total lunar eclipse

There are some excellent tutorials on how to photograph the total lunar eclipse using a smartphone and a “proper” camera—see here, here and here—but the basics are:

How to take a ‘Blood Moon’ close-up

• use a mirrorless or DSR camera with a 500-600mm telephoto lens (though 300mm will just about do).
• focus on infinity.
• begin at ISO 100, f/8 aperture and 1/125-1/250 sec shutter speed, but as totality begins and the Moon goes red try ISO 800 and f4-f8. Also experiment with shutter speed, but go no slower than 1/2 sec.

How to photograph the ‘Blood Moon’ with a smartphone

• get something interesting in the foreground—like a tree, building or mountain (but avoid anything brightly-lit).
• put your smartphone on a tripod because a long exposure will be needed.
• lock your exposure on the Moon by pressing it on the screen, then take the photo. It will take a few seconds, possibly about 25 seconds if you’re in a dark place (the darker, the better!).
• experiment with manual settings if your phone lets you do that/if you have a third-party app

How to observe the ‘Blood Moon’ total lunar eclipse

Although you can easily watch the total lunar eclipse with just your naked eyes a pair of binoculars (or a small telescope) will help you get a fabulous close-up.

Use those binoculars to look just above, left of the Moon and you should see the seventh planet Uranus—which is only bright enough to see easily during a total lunar eclipse. Look for it when the Moon’s surface is entirely red.

There are various stages of the eclipse to observe, notably the partial phase when the Moon begins to turn red. However, with such a long totality all you need to do is to go outside anytime within the 85 minute totality phase.

Anything else I need to know?

If you’re on North America’s east coast, or thereabouts, then you may be in a position to see a “selenelion” eclipse. A selenelion eclipse occurs when the Moon rises fully eclipsed at sunset (in the evening, in the east) or sets fully eclipsed at sunrise (in the morning, in the west).

The the whole of the eastern seaboard of North America US as far south as North Carolina’s Outer Banks will see a selenelion eclipse—look east to see the dawn breaking and the Sun rising then look west to see a totally eclipsed Moon. The phenomenon occurs because of the curvature of Earth—our planet’s atmosphere refracts the images of the Sun and Moon and makes them appear to be in slightly different positions.

Here are seven more things you need to know about the total lunar eclipse.

Disclaimer: I am the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.