Yes, the total eclipse of the moon will be this Friday, but just barely. If you don't read the details, you will be one night too late to watch it.
The moon enters the Earth's shadow late on Thursday night. It then reaches totality at 1:43 a.m. on Friday. So, Alabama folks wanting to watch should plan to stay up late on Thursday night.
All those social media posts blaring total eclipse on Friday, March 14, will cause some to be disappointed if they stay up watching Friday night – one night too late.
The Earth's shadow will cover the moon, which will appear to turn reddish-orange, starting late on Thursday night and continuing early after midnight. The entirety of the eclipse will be visible in Alabama, weather permitting.
Alabama is expecting severe weather this weekend, starting Friday evening. At this time, the Lunar eclipse appears to be over before storms come in.
The sun, moon, and Earth will align so that the moon passes into the Earth's shadow. About 1:43 a.m. Friday, the entire moon will fall within the darkest part of the Earth's shadow, called the umbra. That is when the moon will appear to turn red-orange. Alabama fans will call it a crimson moon, and Auburn fans will call it an orange moon.
You will not need any special equipment to observe the lunar eclipse in Alabama. Binoculars or a telescope can enhance your view. The best viewing conditions are in a dark area away from artificial light.
There is a bonus for Alabama skywatchers during this lunar eclipse. In the western sky, the planets Mars and Jupiter will be visible. As the Earth's shadow dims the moon's glow, these two planets will be easier to spot.
The timing of the eclipse in Alabama on Central Daylight Time is as follows:
- Start of penumbral. Thursday, March 13, 10:57 p.m.
- Start of totality: Friday, March 14, 1:26 a.m.
- End of totality: Friday, March 14, 2:31 a.m.
- End of penumbral: Friday, March 14, 5:00 a.m.
The 2025 eclipse is the first total lunar eclipse since November 2022.
There will be another total lunar eclipse on September 7, but it will not be visible in Alabama.
Details on lunar eclipse times in different Alabama cities can be found here.
"If you've never experienced a total eclipse, you must go to see totality. And, if you have seen a total eclipse, you surely must want to see another one and so must go see totality." — Iowa State University.
Jim' Zig' Zeigler writes about Alabama's people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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