What time is the lunar eclipse in Austin?

Austin, Get Ready to Look Up! Your Guide to the Next Lunar Eclipse

Hey Austin skywatchers, get your calendars out! We’ve got a total lunar eclipse coming up that you won’t want to miss. Circle March 13-14, 2025 – that’s when the Earth will play shadow puppet with the sun and moon, treating us to a spectacular celestial show right here in Texas.

So, what exactly can you expect to see, and when should you be looking up? Let’s break it down, Austin-style:

First, on March 13, 2025, around 11 p.m. CDT, keep an eye out. The moon will start to dim a bit as it enters the Earth’s outer shadow, the penumbra. Now, I’ll be honest, this part can be pretty subtle. You might not even notice it at first. It’s like waiting for the opening act – you know something’s about to happen.

Things get interesting around midnight CDT. That’s when the real action starts – the partial eclipse. You’ll see the Earth’s main shadow, the umbra, begin to creep across the moon’s surface. It’ll look like someone’s taken a bite out of it!

Then comes the main event: 1:26 a.m. CDT on March 14, 2025. Totality! The moon will be completely engulfed in Earth’s shadow. And that’s when the magic happens. You’ve probably heard it called a “blood moon,” and that’s exactly what it can look like – a reddish, coppery glow spreading across the lunar surface. It’s seriously breathtaking.

Totality lasts for a little over an hour, ending around 2:31 a.m. CDT. After that, the moon starts to peek out from behind Earth’s shadow. The partial eclipse wraps up around 3:47 a.m. CDT, and the whole show is over by 5:00 a.m. CDT.

Ever wonder why the moon turns red? Well, it’s all thanks to our atmosphere. As Saul Rivera, Public Programs Specialist at the University of Texas McDonald Observatory, explains, the Earth’s atmosphere acts like a filter, bending sunlight. Red light is scattered less than other colors, so it makes its way through and bathes the moon in that eerie red glow. The more dust or clouds we have in the atmosphere, the more intense the color will be. Fingers crossed for a vibrant blood moon!

Now, for the best viewing experience: you don’t need any fancy equipment. Just find a spot away from those bright Austin lights – the darker, the better! Your eyes will do the trick, but binoculars or a small telescope can definitely enhance the view.

Of course, we need clear skies. Let’s be real, it’s Austin, so there’s always a chance of clouds. Statistically, cloud coverage on this date has been around 65%. Keep an eye on the forecast as we get closer!

Can’t wait until 2025? Well, mark your calendars for March 3, 2026, for another total lunar eclipse. And if you are interested in a partial lunar eclipse, mark August 28, 2026, on your calendar.

So, there you have it, Austin! Get ready for a lunar spectacle. Clear skies and happy viewing!