Pennsylvanians will be treated to ‘blood moon’ lunar eclipse tonight
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Be sure to look up at some point tonight (if you’re still awake, that is).
A lunar eclipse — one that’s known as a “blood moon” — will hang in the darkened firmament for many people to see.
According to NASA, those in the whole of the Western Hemisphere — Pennsylvanians included — will be able to see the moon turn red during a lunar eclipse starting at around 11:57 p.m. until 6 a.m. Friday.
“A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so that the moon passes into the Earth’s shadow,” NASA explains. “In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon falls within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra.
“When the Moon is within the umbra, it appears red-orange. Lunar eclipses are sometimes called ‘Blood Moons’ because of this phenomenon.”
NASA adds that you don’t need special equipment to view a lunar eclipse as you would a solar eclipse, since there’s no risk of your eyes being harmed in the same way.
And this eclipse isn’t the only one coming in 2025, either: A partial solar eclipse is set to occur, also in March, on the 29th, states TimeAndDate.com.
“A partial solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Sun and Earth but the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not perfectly lined up,” a separate NASA article explains. “Only a part of the Sun will appear to be covered, giving it a crescent shape.
“During a total or annular solar eclipse, people outside the area covered by the Moon’s inner shadow see a partial solar eclipse.”
Alas, this partial solar eclipse won’t be visible from the Keystone State: However, TimeAndDates.com notes that people in the northeastern part of the United States such as New York, and Massachusetts, will be in this shadow.
Items such as eclipse glasses are required to look at the partial solar eclipse in order to protect one’s eyes.