Skip to Main Content Skip to Main Site Navigation Skip to Footer

Three of the Lunar Eclipse phases

Total Lunar Eclipse

Experience the magic of the night as Earth’s shadow transforms the Moon during a free Total Lunar Eclipse Viewing!

  • 1:44 AM: The moon will begin to enter Earth's penumbral (partial) shadow...unnoticeably
  • 2:30 AM: The Centennial Observatory opens for viewing - the moon's left edge will be subtly darkened
  • 2:50 AM: A dark "bite" begins growing from its upper left edge as the moon begins to enter Earth's umbral (full) shadow
  • 4:04 AM - 5:03 AM: Totality, with the moon fully in the umbra, appearing dark red-orange (maximum eclipse is at 4:34 AM)
  • 6:17 AM: A small, bright crescent starts growing from the moon's lower left edge, concluding the final partial phase
  • 6:45 AM: The Centennial Observatory closes, with only subtle penumbral shading on the moon's right edge.
  • 7:18 AM: The moon sets, appearing completely normal despite still being slightly in penumbral shadow until 7:23 AM.

*Observatory Events are weather dependent. Call the Centennial Observatory Star Line at 732-MOON(6666) for the latest on upcoming events