Weather forecast looks bleak for northern Utahns to see ‘Super Blood Moon’ this Sunday


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SALT LAKE CITY — The moon will briefly turn a reddish, copper color Sunday night as Earth overshadows the moon. It’s what some scientists have dubbed a “Super Blood Moon,” which occurs when Earth slips between the path of the sun and the moon.

According to Patrick Wiggins, NASA ambassador for Utah, this will start about 8:34 p.m. with totality at 9:41 p.m. as Earth completely shadows the moon. By 10:43 p.m., the moon will start to move away from the shadow, Wiggins added.

"Unlike eclipses of the sun, which require special safety precautions, eclipses of the moon are perfectly safe to observe with just the naked eye," he said in a statement. "So stare all you want and maybe even howl if you feel like it."

While it’s a fun phenomenon, those living in northern Utah may have to scramble to find a place to see it, said KSL meteorologist Grant Weyman. There’s a possibility that could change in the coming days, but a storm is currently projected to hit northern Utah Monday, which would bring high-level cloud cover Sunday night.

“Chances aren’t looking good,” Weyman said of the odds of those living in northern Utah to see the eclipse.

Those living in southern Utah may have better luck. Weyman said anywhere in Utah south of Millard County will have a lesser chance of cloud coverage, based on the current forecast.

Up-to-date forecasts can be found here.

There are a couple of viewing parties slated for Sunday night that are free for the public, Wiggins said.

  • The Salt Lake Astronomical Society will have telescopes available in the parking lot of the Harmons grocery store located at 5454 S. Redwood Road in Taylorsville.
  • The University of Utah will also hold a viewing party at the South Physics Observatory on the roof of the South Physics Building located at 125 S. 1400 East in Salt Lake City.
The next lunar eclipse visible in Utah won’t come until May 26, 2021, Wiggins said.

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Carter Williams is an award-winning reporter who covers general news, outdoors, history and sports for KSL.com.

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