They call it a Blood Moon, a phenomenon that briefly turns the bright white appearance of our full moon a dark – or blood – red.
There’s nothing magical at work; it’s simply a total eclipse that will occur when our earth is positioned just right between the sun and the moon. The deep red occurs when the moon is totally covered with earth’s shadow, and it’s only the sunlight’s long red wavelengths that can bend to reach it.
The only total eclipse – solar or lunar — we’ll see this year will occur in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3. Maximum coverage will be about 6:33 a.m. Provided the skies are clear, best viewing will be in dark-sky locations with minimal light pollution. Metroparks will host a special free program for viewing at Howard Marsh Metropark. For program information and to register visit MetroparksToledo.com and search for “Star Struck: Total Lunar Eclipse.”
