Total Lunar Eclipse Visible In Wyoming April 4th

According to the National Weather Service of Wyoming, a total lunar eclipse will be visible over the entire area, weather permitting, in the early morning hours of April 4th.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through at least a part of the shadow of the Earth, darkening the Moon’s surface as seen from Earth. Most of this eclipse will be visible in this area, again weather permitting. One rather unusual characteristic of this eclipse is that the time of totality will be quite brief, less than 5 minutes. For our general area, the Moon will set before coming out of the partial phase of the eclipse, after totality ends.

The following table provides the times for specific parts of the eclipse, with the times given in Mountain Daylight Time:

Partial eclipse begins: 4:16 AM April 4th
Total eclipse begins: 5:58 AM
Total eclipse ends: 6:03 AM
Moonset: Around 6:45 AM, depending on location

During the times of partial eclipse, you will see the dark shadow cast by Earth (the umbra) cover varying parts of the surface of the Moon. During the total phase the Moon will take on a reddish hue due to the red part of the sunlight being bent through the atmosphere of the Earth and then reflecting off the surface of the Moon.

Unlike a solar eclipse which requires special filters or other methods for safe viewing, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to view with the naked eye. Binoculars or a telescope can enhance the view, especially as the edge of the dark shadow moves across the Moon’s surface.

If you miss this eclipse, the next one, the last of 4 consecutive total lunar eclipses, will occur in the evening on September 27th.