The Only Total Lunar Eclipse of 2021 Will Light Up the Night Sky This Month — Here's How to See It

2021 is the year to look up! Countless amazing astronomical events will be lighting up the sky, but the only lunar eclipse of the year is happening on Wednesday, May 26. A total lunar eclipse happens when Earth is perfectly in line between the moon and the sun, creating a shadow that gives the moon a vibrant reddish-orange glow (this is why some total lunar eclipses are referred to as blood moons). This celestial event will be visible throughout the Pacific Ocean and parts of eastern Asia, Japan, Australia, and western North America, and is expected to start at 1:46 a.m. PT. The moon will enter the darkest part of Earth's shadow around 2:45 a.m. PT, and if you want to catch a glimpse of when the moon's surface is completely covered by Earth's umbra, be sure to look up between 4:11 a.m. and 4:26 a.m. PT.

The eclipse will reach totality for less than 15 minutes, so make sure not to miss it, because you'll have to wait until 2024 to see another total solar eclipse again. With an alluring red hue, this eclipse is sure to leave you starry-eyed! Looking for more? You can learn about the rest of 2021's astronomical events right here.