Be over the moon because total lunar eclipse coming Sunday to Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — On Sunday night, the moon will turn red while traveling into the shadow of the Earth for a total lunar eclipse. A Utah citizen-scientist says the viewer of an eclipse is actually seeing the Universe in motion as the sun, Earth and moon align.

Patrick Wiggins, who is the recipient of the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, joins KSL NewsRadio’s Dave & Debbie to talk about the lunar eclipse, which can be seen in Utah between 9:29-10:53 p.m. MDT on Sunday, May 15, 2022, with a peak totality at 10:11 p.m.

“So how complete is this going to be here in Utah? Is it going to be just covering a portion of the moon or is this going to be a full eclipse?” Dave asked.

Total lunar eclipse: Utah

No telescope will be necessary to view the moon show.

“Personally, what I’ll be doing is out in the yard and just looking with, you know, my eyeballs,” Wiggins said. 

In Utah, the total lunar eclipse will have begun before the moon rises. Viewers in Colorado and eastward will be able to witness the beginning of the eclipse, Wiggins said.

“9:30-ish or thereabouts, you want to be in a place that has a very low southeastern horizon,” Wiggins said. “Also, try to stay away from any area with a lot of light pollution from the city because that’ll tend to wash it out.”

He added that sunset Sunday evening will be close to the beginning of the total lunar eclipse. It will still be visible, with the end of the eclipse coming just before 11 p.m.

“So, I’m gonna say virtually everybody in Utah is going to have a chance to see at least the latter part [of the total eclipse].”

Sunday’s eclipse is the first of two lunar eclipses in 2022; the second will happen Nov. 8.

Fun fact: Greek philosopher Aristotle and Roman historian Pliny the Elder suggested that the brain was the “moistest” organ in the body and thereby most susceptible to the pernicious influences of the moon, according to Scientific American.

Related:

A total lunar eclipse will turn the moon red. Here’s how to watch

 

Dave & Dujanovic can be heard weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app, as well as Apple Podcasts and Google Play.