An 84-Minute ‘Super Blood Moon’ For North America In First Total Lunar Eclipse For Two Years: What You Can See In The Night Sky This Week

Each Monday I pick out the northern hemisphere’s celestial highlights (mid-northern latitudes) for the week ahead, but be sure to check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.

What To Watch For In The Night Sky This Week: May 9-15, 2022

This week is all about the total lunar eclipse next weekend. During the build-up our natural satellite in space will get bigger and brighter and then, on Sunday evening, it will slip into Earth’s mighty shadow in space and be smothered in thousands of sunsets.

If you’re in North America and you’ve never seen a lunar totality—also called a “Blood Moon”—then don’t miss this entrancing sight. Here’s everything you need to know:

Monday, May 9, 2022: A planetary parade

Look south before dawn and you’ll see the wonderful sight of four planets all lined-up in order of brightness. The orb-like Venus will be closest to the horizon with bright Jupiter to its upper-left, then Mars, then a more distant and dimmer Saturn.

Monday, May 9, 2022: Regulus and a First Quarter Moon

Also today—though after dark—you can see a 60%-lit Moon just past First Quarter in the constellation of Leo “the lion.” Find bright star Regulus just under the Moon.

Sunday, May 15, 2022: A full ‘Flower Moon’ and a ‘Super Blood Moon’ total lunar eclipse

On the night of May 15 in the western hemisphere the Moon will enter the Earth’s shadow to create a total lunar eclipse. It will be possible to watch the “Blood Moon” section of the eclipse—which will last 84 minutes—from everywhere in North America … clear skies allowing. It’s also a supermoon, being the third-closest full Moon of the year.

Here’s when to see the “Blood Moon” for the U.S. timezones:

  • 11:29 p.m.-oo:53 a.m. EDT on Sunday May 15-Monday, 16, 2022 (max. totality at 00:11 a.m.)
  • 10:29-11:53 p.m. CDT on Sunday May 15, 2022 (max. totality at 11:11 p.m.)
  • 9:29-10:53 p.m. MDT on Sunday May 15, 2022 (max. totality at 10:11 p.m.)
  • 8:29-9:53 p.m. PDT on Sunday May 15, 2022 (max. totality at 9:11 p.m.)

Disclaimer: I am the editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

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