In the Dark

Weather permitting, people in California and the West will be able to witness what is expected to be a particularly graphic total lunar eclipse Sunday, as the moon passes through Earth’s shadow.

Timing: Astronomers at Griffith Observatory say the eclipse is well-timed for West Coast residents because it will occur late in the evening, when the moon is higher in the sky.

Other eclipses: It will be the first total eclipse visible in Los Angeles since June 4, an event obscured locally by clouds. The next total lunar eclipse visible in the Los Angeles area will occur in September, 1996.

Best View: Although the moon will enter the faintest fringe of Earth’s shadow at 7:27 p.m., the best viewing will be after 8:40, when it begins to slip into the dark inner shadow. The moon should be completely obscured for 48 minutes, starting at 10:02 p.m.

UMBRA (Darkest part of Earth’s shadow)

All times are Pacific Standard Time 1:25 a.m.: MOON LEAVES PENUMBRA 12:12 a.m.: MOON LEAVES UMBRA 10:50 p.m.: TOTAL ECLIPSE ENDS 10:02 p.m.: TOTAL ECLIPSE BEGINS 8:40 p.m.: PARTIAL ECLIPSE BEGINS 7:27 p.m.: MOON ENTERS PENUMBRA PENUMBRA (Outer fringe of Earth’s shadow) Sources: Sky & Telescope Magazine, Griffith Observatory