Total lunar eclipse expected Sunday night

MISSOULA, Mont. — North America will see a total lunar eclipse on Sunday night.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and moon line up, with Eastern and Central times zones will be able to see the whole event.

Mountain and Pacific zones will see the eclipse in progress as the moon rises.

Viewers can safely watch as the full Flower moon goes into the earth's shadow for nearly three and a half hours.

Mountain zone's eclipse times are listed below:

• Partial umbral eclipse begins: 8:27 p.m. Moon enters the earth’s shadow.
• Total lunar eclipse begins: 9:29 p.m. Moon turns dark orange or red.
• Greatest eclipse: 10:11 p.m. Mid-point of the eclipse.
• Total lunar eclipse ends: 10:53 p.m. Moon begins to leave the shadow.
• Partial umbral eclipse ends: 11:55 p.m. Moon exits earth’s shadow.

The following is sent in a press release from The Backyard Astronomer, Gary Boyle:

On the night of May 15 and 16, 2022, North America will witness a total lunar eclipse. This amazing celestial lineup of the Sun, earth and the moon will play out with eastern and central time zones seeing the entire event. Mountain and Pacific zones will witness the eclipse in progress as the moon rises.

This is a very safe event as the full Flower moon moves into the earth’s shadow for almost three and a half hours. Eclipse times are:

Eastern Time

• Partial umbral eclipse begins: 10:27 p.m. Moon enters the earth’s shadow.
• Total lunar eclipse begins: 11:29 p.m. Moon turns dark orange or red.
• Greatest eclipse: 12:11 a.m. Mid-point of the eclipse.
• Total lunar eclipse ends: 12:53 a.m. Moon begins to leave the shadow.
• Partial umbral eclipse ends: 1:55 a.m. Moon completely exits earth’s shadow.

Central Time

• Partial umbral eclipse begins: 9:27 p.m. Moon enters the earth’s shadow.
• Total lunar eclipse begins: 10:29 p.m. Moon turns dark orange or red.
• Greatest eclipse: 11:11 p.m. Mid-point of the eclipse.
• Total lunar eclipse ends: 11:53 p.m. Moon begins to leave the shadow.
• Partial umbral eclipse ends: 12:55 a.m. Moon exits earth’s shadow.

Mountain Time

• Partial umbral eclipse begins: 8:27 p.m. Moon enters the earth’s shadow.
• Total lunar eclipse begins: 9:29 p.m. Moon turns dark orange or red.
• Greatest eclipse: 10:11 p.m. Mid-point of the eclipse.
• Total lunar eclipse ends: 10:53 p.m. Moon begins to leave the shadow.
• Partial umbral eclipse ends: 11:55 p.m. Moon exits earth’s shadow.

Pacific Time

• Partial umbral eclipse begins: 7:27 p.m. Moon will rise as the eclipse begins.
• Total lunar eclipse begins: 8:29 p.m. Moon turns dark orange or red.
• Greatest eclipse: 9:11 p.m. Mid-point of the eclipse.
• Total lunar eclipse ends: 9:53 p.m. Moon begins to leave the shadow.
• Partial umbral eclipse ends: 10:55 p.m. Moon exits earth’s shadow.