Fast Facts
-All lunar eclipses happen ONLY at Full Moons (all solar eclipses happen at New Moon).
-During a Lunar Eclipse, the Full Moon gradually enters the shadow of the Earth. A Total Lunar Eclipse occurs only if the entire Moon is in the Earth's shadow.
-About an hour before the Total Lunar Eclipse, the Moon enters the umbra (or dark portion) of the Earth's shadow. This is known as a partial phase of the lunar eclipse and begins at 12:58 a.m. CDT on April 15th and ends at 2:06 a.m. CDT.
-The Total Lunar Eclipse (when the Moon is completely immersed in the Earth's shadow) begins at 2:06 a.m. CDT and ends at 3:24 a.m. CDT on the morning of April 15th. The middle of the eclipse occurs at 2:45 a.m. CDT.
-From 3:24 a.m. CDT until 4:33 a.m. CDT the Moon gradually moves out of the Earth's umbra (the dark portion of the shadow).
At 12:58 am on the morning of Tuesday, April 15, the Moon will slip into the Earth's shadow and dazzle residents of the Midwest. The Moon will continue to darken during the total phase (2:06-3:24 am) before lightening again after 4 am. While more common than solar eclipses, lunar eclipses last longer and can be viewed almost anywhere on the night side of the Earth (provided it's clear). And no two are ever the same—they can range in color from brick red to copper to dark grey. Come celebrate this cosmic alignment at our Lunar Eclipse Viewing Party on Tuesday, April 15, from 12:01-4 am with special lectures, programs, and more! This free family event includes:
- Telescope viewing from the Adler Planetarium lawn
- Special lectures by Adler astronomers & educators, and access to the Space Visualization Laboratory
- Back to the Moon for Good* theater show
- Eclipse and Moon-related educational programs
- Light refreshments
There will be public telescopes available but please feel free to bring your own telescope and/or binoculars.
*Back to the Moon for Good is an additional $5.00 ticket (per person), available at the Box Office during the event.
Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the planetarium and costs $13 per car. Metered street parking is also available.
Bus access to Museum Campus will be unavailable after 11:30 pm. We are encouraging all guests to drive their own vehicle and park in the lot adjacent to the Adler or take a taxi to the museum. Learn more about getting to the Adler
Lunar Eclipse Viewing Party
Adler Planetarium
Tuesday 12:01 - 4 a.m.
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/events/lunar-eclipse-viewing-party
