Take a step outside this evening, Friday, November 19, around sunset and you just might be lucky enough to witness a once in 500 years celestial phenomenon – the moon changing colour into a ‘ghostly’ blood red.
Unlike a solar eclipse, you won’t need special glasses to witness this spectacular experience.
This partial lunar eclipse will be the longest since the 15th century. Speaking to ABC News, amateur astronomer Ian Musgrave said, “it’s going to be a very nice twilight eclipse”.
Tonight’s eclipse comes six months after the rare super blood moon, which was visible in all parts of Australia.
The eclipse will start at 6.18pm (AEDT) before moonrise and be visible for most of Australia, except south-west Western Australia, with the spectacle expected to last for a whopping 3 hours and 28 minutes.
Moongazers unite! The longest partial lunar eclipse of this century will occur overnight, peaking early Nov. 19 at 4:03am ET (09:03 UTC).
Find out what parts of the world will be able to see it: https://t.co/wEuWtoZCMl pic.twitter.com/xtXjwbgvnl
— NASA (@NASA) November 18, 2021
How much of the moon you get to see and what the moon will look like will be very different across other parts of the world. If there’s more light in the sky, it may be harder to notice the change in colour, some people might see a more “pinkish moon”, says astronomer Dr Tanya Hill of the Melbourne Planetarium.
“Because we’ve got that moonrise and sunset issue, [what it looks like is] going to be absolutely dependent on your location if you want to know the precise timing,” she says.
Here’s a rough guide to what you’ll see across all local time zones.
NSW and ACT (AEDT)
As the moon rises over Sydney and Canberra
7.30pm- 7.45pm – three quarters in shadow
8.03pm- eclipse at its maximum
9.45pm- eclipse is visible in all states and territories
Victoria (AEDT)
Melbourne
8.12pm- the eclipse will have already reached its maximum by this time. There might be a struggle to see the first 20 minutes to half an hour
9.47pm- eclipse ends
Tasmania (AEDT)
8.17pm- like Melbourne, the moon will have already reached its maximum as it rises over the horizon over Hobart
8.51pm you will be able to see half the moon in shadow
Queensland (AEDT)
Queenslanders will have exceptional views of the maximum eclipse.
6.14pm- two thirds of the moon will shadow over Brisbane, just before sunset.
7:02pm- twilight ends and the moon will be entirely in shadow
8.47- eclipse ends
South Australia (ACDT)
7.32pm- the moon will be at its maximum, however those in Adelaide may miss it
8.11pm- the moon will be three quarters in shadow before rising over the horizon
10.33pm- eclipse ends
Northern Territory (ACST)
6.53pm- moon will rise, but watchers may miss the maximum eclipse
9.33pm- eclipse ends
Western Australia (AWST)
Unfortunately, WA will miss the eclipse, but those living in Broome might be able to catch the last 15 minutes before the eclipse ends at 6.47pm.
Astrologers around the world have warned us to expect “cosmic chaos” and “massive endings” in the wake of tonight’s rare spectacle, as the Earth moves between the sun and moon. Melbourne astrologer Janelle Palibrk said that “all 12 star signs will be affected emotionally” and “feeling out of sorts”.
But the blood moon won’t be the only thing Aussies will see tonight apparently. As the moon rises, stargazers will witness the moon in the constellation of Taurus the bull. As the moon gets darker, observers should be able to make out the stars surrounding it, including the breathtaking clusters of stars Pleiades, also known as the Seven sisters. Further right, gazers will see the constellation of Orion.
Take your eyes off the horizon and witness Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, making a bright appearance in a line above the western horizon.