NZ set for rare blood moon eclipse; best viewing tips

By RNZ

A rare blood moon will be seen across all of New Zealand on Friday.

Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki told RNZ a blood moon, or lunar eclipse, is when the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, called the penumbra, creating a “red hue” – hence the name.

Aoraki said the eclipse will reach totality between 8pm and 8.30pm Friday.

He said it will be able to be seen with the naked eye, but if you have a camera, telescope or binoculars it would be worth bringing those along.

The Moon will rise in the east after sunset, so Aoraki’s advice to see the Moon is to look towards the eastern horizon, or head to a beach on the east coast.

However, the weather would play the biggest factor in whether you can see the blood moon.

Luckily, MetService is forecasting a “mainly fine” Friday for most of the country, with isolated showers about Bay of Plenty and Coromandel. While the South Island, the West Coast is forecast to experience a few showers, turning to rain in Fiordland, and isolated showers in Otago and Southland, clearing later on.

The last blood moon occurred in 2022, however, this year there will be two blood moons, so if you miss tomorrow’s lunar eclipse, you’ll get another chance later this year.

- RNZ

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.