Planning on seeing the super blood moon this weekend? No, it’s not the latest “Twilight” movie, though it would be a good contender to follow in the series after the “New Moon,” “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn” installments.
Chicagoans will join people around the globe in staring at the sky Sunday night when the supermoon coincides with the lunar eclipse. It’s also referred to as a blood moon because of the moon’s glowing color.
If you’re 33 years old or younger, you have never seen this eerie cosmic event. And if you miss it Sunday, you will have to wait another 18 years.
Since Millennials haven’t experienced the sky show, here’s what to expect.
What is a supermoon lunar eclipse?
A supermoon appears 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter because the moon on its orbit is at its closest point to Earth compared with when it is furthest away.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon falls into Earth’s shadow and darkens. The moon takes on a reddish-copper color caused by sunlight refracting through Earth’s atmosphere. The color depends on factors such as particles in the air. It could be darker, for instance, if there have been volcano eruptions.
It’s also a harvest moon, the full moon that is closest to the autumnal equinox. Sunday’s lunar eclipse will be the final one in what’s called a tetrad, a series of four consecutive total eclipses occurring at six-month intervals.
How rare is it?
A lunar eclipse and a supermoon haven’t happened at the same time since 1982. It won’t happen again until 2033.
When is it happening in Chicago?
Beginning at 8:07 p.m., the moon’s edge will slip into Earth’s shadow, and it will look like a piece of it is cut away. For the next hour, the moon will gradually move into the shadow, and by 9:11 p.m. it will be completely covered by the planet’s shadow. The event will last for a little longer than one hour, until 10:23 p.m.
The weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies so it won’t be a completely clear sky, but it will be a nice night to be outside: Temperatures will be in the low 60s, according to the National Weather Service.
The Adler Planetarium is hosting a viewing party from 7 to 11:30 p.m. with telescope viewing and special lectures for a ticket price of $12 for adults.
Sources: Adler Planetarium astronomer Larry Ciupik and NASA
