Rare “Blood Moon” Total Lunar Eclipse Over SF (Nov. 8)

In the early morning on Tuesday, November 8, 2023, we’ll be treated to a rare Total Lunar Eclipse over San Francisco. It’ll be the last total lunar eclipse for the next three years until March 14, 2025.

Thanks to NASA for sharing the details about the upcoming Blood Moon. According to NASA, “a lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so that the Moon passes into Earth’s shadow. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon falls within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra. When the Moon is within the umbra, it will turn a reddish hue. Lunar eclipses are sometimes called “Blood Moons” because of this phenomenon.”

You can watch the moon turn red when the eclipse reaches totality. In San Francisco, the maximum eclipse will occur at 2:59 am. Just after midnight at 12:02 am, the Penumbral Eclipse begins; the Partial Eclipse begins at 1:09 and the Total Eclipse begins at 2:16 am. See the full stages and times of the eclipse at Time and Date.

You can head outside yourself to catch the view, but if you’re looking to fully immerse yourself, join in for Chabot Space & Science Center’s Total Lunar Eclipse Watch Party led by expert astronomers from 11:30 pm (November 7) to 4 am (November 8), with a live presentation about the eclipse at midnight. Tickets are $15.