Total Lunar Eclipse, April 15, 2014

On the early evening of 15 April there there be a total eclipse of the Moon, the first of two visible from Australia this year. The 15 April eclipse occurs mostly at twilight in the eastern and central states (Western Australia misses out entirely).

Although most of the eclipse occurs in the twilight, it will still be interesting to watch. The eclipsed Moon at twilight has an entirely different look to a normal rising Moon with the pearly light replaced with a coppery-red glow. You will need a flat, clear horizon (especially in the central states), but for those with an eastern sea view, the sight of the eclipsed Moon rising from the sea like a bubble of blood will be amazing.

The start of the eclipse, and the begining of totality occur below the horizon in Australia.

For the East Coast Moon Rise occurs around the time of maximum eclipse (see table below), the shadow of the Earth slips off the Moon as the sky darkens, and by the time the sky is fully dark there will still be a chip out of the Moon.

For the Central states  Moon Rise occurs just as maximum eclipse is ending, but you still get to see the mostly eclipsed moon, looking like a rusty shadow, rise into the darkening sky, it will be a quite different experience from the usual Lunar eclipses, and very worthwhile.

New Zealand sees a lot more of the eclipse, with the umbral eclipse starting as the Moon rises.

See here for a map and contact timings in UT for sites outside Australia