“Super Blood Moon” to Adorn the Skies on May 26; Here’s the Best Time to View It

After the first super moon of the year brightened up our skies last April, another celestial event is happening this May that is worth looking up the skies for. A total lunar eclipse or a super blood moon will be visible on May 26, 2021, and it’s a sight you would not want to miss.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the total lunar eclipse will be visible from South/East Asia, Australia, parts of North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Antarctica.

A total lunar eclipse occurs during a full moon, when the sun, Earth, and moon perfectly line up, casting a shadow completely covering the moon. Unlike the pink moon, the blood moon actually looks like it sounds. It is called a super blood moon or a super flower moon because of the rusty reddish hue it gives off during the eclipse.

How to View the Blood Moon

PAGASA says lunar eclipses are safe to watch and can be observed without any kind of protective filter for the eyes. The greatest part of the event is during the umbra, or the greatest eclipse, wherein the earth casts a full, dark shadow on the moon. The best part of the eclipse will last for only 14 minutes 30 seconds, so it’s important to keep notes of the time so you won’t miss it.

Here are the phases of the total lunar eclipse on Wednesday, May 26, 2021:

Phase	Time
Penumbral eclipse begins	4:47 PM
Partial eclipse begins	5:44 PM
Total eclipse starts	7:11 PM
Greatest eclipse	7:18 PM
Total eclipse ends	7:25 PM
Partial eclipse ends	8:52 PM
Penumbral eclipse ends	9:49 PM

The use of binoculars to view the blood moon will also make the Moon’s red coloration brighter.

SOURCE: PAGASA