Muncie is one of the few places around the world where the lunar eclipse will be visible tonight from start to finish, weather permitting.
"A lunar eclipse happens about once a year, but most people only get a chance to see it maybe three or four times in their lives," Ronald Kaitchuck, professor of physics and astronomy at Ball State, said. "The problem is the weather. Lunar eclipses are only visable when the weather is clear."
According to skyandtelescope.com, a site Kaitchuck recommends, an eclipse of the moon can take place only if the moon is full and if it passes through some portion of the Earth's shadow.
"Lunar eclipses can be seen anywhere in the nighttime earth," Kaitchuck said.
He said the May 15-16 lunar eclipse will be visible from North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Antarctica.
The eastern half of the United States will be able to see the entire eclipse, weather permitting. From the western half of the United States, the partial phase of the eclipse wil begin before moonrise, according to skyandtelescope.com.
From start to finish, the lunar eclipse will last about three hours and fifteen minutes.
"Watching a lunar eclipse is like watching grass grow. The process takes a relatively long time," Kaitchuck said.
The moon will be in total eclipse for about 53 minutes, which is considerably shorter than the maximim duration possible of one hour and 47 minutes, according to skyandtelescope.com.
The brilliant red-orange hue of a lunar eclipse comes from sunlight that is filtered and bent by the Earth's atmosphere before it reaches the moon.
The moon is expected to take on a vivid red or orange color during the total phase because no major volcanic eruptions have occurred recently.
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