Moon takes on red hue during total lunar eclipse

Despite a few passing clouds as totality approached, Sunday night’s lunar eclipse was largely visible in St. Marys, with the moon slowly darkening and then taking on a reddish hue during the event.

Known as the Super Flower Blood Moon, the eclipse got underway just after 10 p.m. Sunday, with peak totality occurring at 12:11 a.m. Monday.

The full moon was considered a supermoon because it was within 90 percent of its closest point to Earth. However, it was not the closest full moon of 2022. According to the website earthsky. org, the average distance between the Earth and moon is 238,900 miles. The distance for May’s full moon was 225,015 miles. June, July and August are also considered supermoons this year and will have distances of 222,238 miles, 222,089 miles, and 224,569 miles, respectively.

While the Flower Moon is the most popular name for May’s full moon, it has several others as well, including the Hare Moon, Grass Moon, Planting Moon, and Milk Moon.

As for why the full moon was called a Blood Moon, according to space.com, “when a total lunar eclipse happens, it passes into the umbra or deep shadow of the Earth. Light from our planet is refracted around the edges of the atmosphere and falls upon the moon’s surface. That’s where the red hue comes from.”

For those that missed Sunday’s lunar eclipse, another will be happening on Nov. 8. According to the website timeanddate.com, the beginning of the November eclipse, as well as totality, will be visible from St. Marys, but the moon will set soon after totality ends. Maximum eclipse in November is set to occur at 5:59 a.m., with moonset following at 7:01 a.m.