Blue Supermoon Lunar Eclipse Watch Party | USS Hornet

Submitted by the Event Organizer

A blue supermoon lunar eclipse will take place in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, and this one is worth waking up early for.

They welcome you aboard the USS Hornet Museum to observe this blue supermoon total lunar eclipse from the flight deck. Unlike a solar eclipse, you don’t need any special equipment to enjoy a lunar eclipse-it can be seen with the naked eye, though to view the moon in even more detail, feel free to bring a pair of binoculars or a telescope.

The USS Hornet served as the recovery vessel for the Apollo 11 & 12 lunar landing missions—the spaceflights that landed the first humans on the Moon nearly 50 years ago—and is the ultimate viewing platform from which to enjoy this celestial event with family, friends, and fellow moongazers.

Schedule of Events:

Eclipse: occurring between 3:45 am – 7 am, with the total eclipse taking place around 5:30 am

Moonset: the moon will set over the San Francisco skyline at about 7:20 am

Viewing Options Aboard Hornet: Choose from two options to join us aboard the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum to view the Blue Supermoon Total Lunar Eclipse from the Flight Deck:

Overnight Open House

Arrive between 7 pm and 9 pm on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, to spend the night aboard and explore the Hanger Bay (which includes our renowned Apollo exhibition) and Second Deck exhibits, enjoy a movie, and camp out below decks in the restored enlisted sailors’ bunks. Or head up to the Flight Deck early to claim your spot and (if you choose) set up your viewing and/or photography gear. Wakeup calls will be conducted shipwide over the PA system at 5 am and 7 am. Visitors ages 6 and up are welcome to participate.

Please Note: During the overnight open house, self-guided tours of general spaces are encouraged but no specialty tours will be offered. Please plan to return to the Museum during regular business hours to continue your adventure.

Viewing Only

Arrive in the early morning of Wednesday, January 31, between 3:00am and 4:00am and head straight up to the Flight Deck to set up your viewing and/or photography gear. Please note: The Webster Tube connecting Oakland to Alameda will be closed for maintenance between 10 pm and 2 am. If you’re headed to the Museum during that time frame please plan to use a different route.

All visitors participating in either viewing option are asked to depart by 9 am on Wednesday, January 31, 2018. The Museum will reopen for general admission at 10 am.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.