Here’s How Michigan Can Experience The Total Lunar Eclipse

The research of celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole is the scientific branch known as astronomy. Many people are fascinated by the planets, stars, space, and other parts of our universe which draws them go pursue a career as an astronauts or other fields in astronomy.

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Even if you're not diving headfirst into astronomy, you're aware of the many different astronomical events that occur during a calendar year. Most of them have to deal with the amount of sunlight that we experience in a day during a certain time of year or the moon. More specifically, the size of the moon and what color it is.

The phases that the moon goes through are known as solstices and eclipses which are also connected to the seasons. As the weather begins to change outside, we can expect the moon to be going through a phase as well, the springtime brings about the total lunar eclipse. Here's what residents in Michigan need to know about the upcoming total lunar eclipse and how to experience it.

When Is The Eclipse?

The total lunar eclipse will occur in the early morning of Friday, March 14, for Michigan, Space.com said. The eclipse will include about 65 minutes of totality, reaching its maximum phase at 2:59 a.m. This will only last a few hours as the Earth will be blocking sunlight from reaching the moon.

How to View The Eclipse?

The total lunar eclipse will be visible to the naked eye, by binoculars, or telescope. It's best to go to an open area away from city light pollution including the many dark sky parks located in Michigan.

Below are the names and locations of the dark sky parks in Michigan:

• The Alpena area has three Dark Sky Preserves: Rockport State Recreation Area, Thompson's Harbor State Park and Negwegon State Park.
• In Mackinaw City, Headlands International Dark Sky Park, 15675 Headlands Road.
• In Empire, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, 9922 Front St.
• In Munising, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
• In Paradise, the Great Lakes Museum and Whitefish Point Light Station, 18335 N. Whitefish Point Road, and Tahquamenon Falls State Park at 41382 W. M-123.
• In Port Austin, Port Crescent State Park, 1775 Port Austin Road.
• In Clayton, Lake Hudson Recreation Area, 5505 Morey Hwy.
• In Carp Lake, Wilderness State Park, 903 Wilderness Park Drive.
• Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in Keweenaw County and Dr. T.K. Lawless Park in Cass County are international spots. And, finally, the Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area is an international sanctuary.

What Is A Total Lunar Eclipse?

A total lunar eclipse is when the sun, Earth and moon align so the moon is covered by the Earth's shadow, or umbra, NASA said.

March Full Moon Details

The March full moon is known as the Worm Moon and will reach its peak illumination at 2:55am on the 14th. The March full moon is not a super moon though, but it will appear red due to the way the sunlight strikes the moon's surface after passing through the atmosphere.