On Sunday evening, January 20, 2019, there will be a very nice total lunar eclipse (where the Earth’s shadow darkens the full moon) visible in all of North America. Since this is the day before Martin Luther King Day, many children will not have school the next day and can stay up to enjoy the celestial spectacle with their families.
Total eclipses of the Moon are perfectly safe to look at, don’t require special viewing equipment, and are visible all over one hemisphere of planet Earth. Your eyes are just fine to see the show. This is quite a contrast with the total eclipses of the Sun, where viewing can sometimes hurt your eyes, special equipment is a big help, and the best show is only visible in a narrow path. The lunar eclipse is for everyone!
A more detailed information sheet with questions and answers by astronomer and SETI Institute Trustee, Andrew Fraknoi, including the timing in each time zone of the continental U.S., can be found at:
