Lunar Eclipse and Super Moon Converge in California Sky

Posted on by Gabe Castro-Root

A total lunar eclipse was visible from San Francisco Wednesday morning, offering early risers an opportunity to see a rare celestial phenomenon from home. 

The eclipse began around 3 a.m. and ended after 5 a.m., once the moon had set for viewers in California. The peak of the eclipse, when the moon was entirely in Earth’s shadow and appeared a dark red color, lasted from 4:11 a.m. to 4:25 a.m. and was fully visible in California.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon align and the moon is entirely submerged in the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra. Partial, or penumbral, lunar eclipses are more common and occur when the moon is darkened by Earth’s outer shadow.

The eclipse also coincided with a super moon, which is when the moon is at the closest point of its orbit to Earth and appears slightly larger than usual.

A temperate and mostly cloudless night in San Francisco made for ideal viewing conditions. The eclipse was visible across the West Coast of the United States as well as in southern Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific islands.

The below photos of the eclipse were taken in Noe Valley.

The peak of the eclipse, when the moon was fully submerged behind Earth’s shadow.
Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
The eclipse occurred during a super moon, when the moon is at the closest point of its orbit to Earth.
Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
Earth’s shadow moved across the moon, seen just after 3 a.m.
Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
At the peak, the top of the moon remained brighter than the rest because it was closest to the outer shadow of Earth.
Photo by Gabe Castro-Root
Gabe Castro-Root
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    • Gabe Castro-Root

      Gabe Castro-Root is the co-Editor-in-Chief of the Paper Tiger. He is a senior at LWHS and was Photo Editor as a junior, his first year on the staff. You can often find him running or photographing the night sky.

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    Gabe Castro-Root

    Gabe Castro-Root is the co-Editor-in-Chief of the Paper Tiger. He is a senior at LWHS and was Photo Editor as a junior, his first year on the staff. You can often find him running or photographing the night sky.