How, where to see total lunar eclipse tonight on each Hawaiʻi island

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Get ready for an amazing night sky event in Hawaii! On March 13 and 14, we have the opportunity to see and experience a total lunar eclipse.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into Earth’s shadow and turns a reddish-orange color, which is why it’s often referred to as a “Blood Moon”.

The cool part? You don’t need any special tools to see it. All you have to do is step outside; get in a dark place, away from bright city lights; and look to the heavens. If you have binoculars or a telescope, that’ll make the view even better.

This lunar eclipse will be visible from the Western Hemisphere, which includes Hawaii this time around.

Why does the Moon turn red?

To understand this phenomenon, we’ve got to talk about a bit of science. As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, blue light scatters away (this is why the sky is blue). Meanwhile, the red light bends toward the Moon and gives it that eerie glow. It’s like seeing all of Earth’s sunrises and sunsets at once.

Where and when to watch

This lunar eclipse will be visible across the Western Hemisphere, including Hawaii and much of the Americas. The eclipse will occur overnight. At that time, the Moon will start in the constellation Leo and later move into Virgo; so, you may have the opportunity also to spot Jupiter and Mars nearby.

The eclipse will reach its totality between 8:26 p.m and 9:31 p.m.