Prepare to be Moonstruck! Monday April 14th will be the first of four lunar eclipses (a tetrad) this year. People are calling it a Blood Moon because during a total lunar eclipse the full moon appears coppery red as dispersed light from all the Earth’s sunrises and sunsets falls on the face of the moon. And it’s not just the lunar eclipse that will get our attention. The very bright red planet Mars will shine close to the full moon that night. But keep your fingers crossed for a clear nighttime sky.

Will Portland Skies be Clear?

KGW Meteorologist Rod Hill told PRP that right now, “increasing cloudiness is expected Monday night, ahead of Tuesday showers.” Still, should Mother Nature cooperate, we’ll see the moon begin crossing into the Earth’s shadow at 9:53 p.m. Portland time with the total phase of the eclipse lasting from 12:06 a.m. until 1:24 a.m.

Oh yes, for those of you who are scientifically inclined NASA has dedicated an entire website on this year’s lunar eclipses. They’re even planning a live chat during the eclipse.

PRP