Total lunar eclipse tonight: Blood moon visible in Tauranga and Rotorua

A lunar eclipse. Photo / Andrew Harman

Want to see a total lunar eclipse? Then look towards the sky tonight at 7.30pm.

The forecast is looking good with the MetService forecasting mostly fine weather for Bay of Plenty people wanting to view the eclipse.

Tauranga Astronomical Society president David Greig said a blood moon was when the full moon passed through the shadow cast by the Earth, causing the moon to change to a coppery red colour.

Greig told SunLive the eclipse would be visible from Rotorua as well as Tauranga.

He warned that for locations further south, it might not be as good due to the timing of their local sunset and the brightness of the sky.

In Tauranga, the sun will set about 7.30pm. Moonrise will be around 7.33pm.

In Rotorua, the sun will set nine minutes later at 7.39pm.

A lunar eclipse resulting in a blood moon. Photo / Jeff Morgan

Greig said the total-eclipse phase will already be under way as the moon rises.

He said maximum eclipse will be at 7.58pm.

“This is when the moon is in the darkest part of the central shadow cast by the Earth.

“The sky will still be quite light at this time, but the moon should be looking an unusually dark coppery red colour.”

Greig said the “total” (dark umbral) phase of the eclipse will continue after 8pm and will end at 8.31pm.

The “partial” phase of the eclipse (where we can still clearly see the dark shadow of the earth) ends at 9.47pm.

A lunar eclipse montage. Photo / Greg Stevens

“This will complete the most interesting phases of the eclipse.

The final lighter “penumbral” (outer shadow) phase ends at 11pm.

Greig said the planets Jupiter and Mars will also be visible throughout (weather permitting).

During the dark umbral phase of the eclipse, the Matariki star cluster (Pleiades) may also be visible, in the northwest.

A viewing night at the Tauranga Astronomical Society observatory telescopes. Photo / Supplied

Greig said the eclipse will be visible to the unaided eye.

“No telescope is required to view it.”

People wanting to know more about the viewing potential can visit: timeanddate.com

In a post on Facebook, and sent to SunLive, Greig said they plan to open the observatory from 7.30pm, hopefully starting with a sausage sizzle at $3 each, and will have a number of telescopes set up for viewing.

The sun will set in Tauranga about 7.30pm. Moonrise will be around 7.33pm.

“Please let us know if you plan to come along, how many people will be with you and whether you would like a barbecue sausage on bread [$3 each].”

Greig said entry will be free for this event, but koha/donations were welcomed to help support the running of the observatory and its outreach.

“Please note that we don’t have Eftpos so cash only please for donations and for the barbecue sausage sizzle.”

Astro Cat at the Tauranga Astronomical Society. Photo / Supplied