Full lunar eclipse: 'Blood moon' photos light up social media

Full lunar eclipse: ‘Blood moon’ photos light up social media

1/11

A combination of 10 pictures shows the moon in different stages of a total lunar eclipse seen from the Spanish Canary island of Tenerife. (Desiree Martin / AFP/Getty Images)

2/11

The moon takes on a red hue during the total lunar eclipse as seen from the Griffith Observatory. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

3/11

John O’ Bryan, a member of the L.A. Astronomical Society, sets up his telescope as people gather at the Griffith Observatory for the lunar eclipse viewing event. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

4/11

The view from the Chabot Space and Science Center observatory in Oakland. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

5/11

A total eclipse of the moon as seen from Koreatown near downtown Los Angeles. (Joe Klamar / AFP/Getty Images)

6/11

The moon is seen from Burbank as it nears a total lunar eclipse. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

7/11

The moon glows red during a total lunar eclipse as seen from the Milwaukee area. (Mike De Sisti / Associated Press)

8/11

The Earth’s shadow renders the moon in a crimson hue during a total lunar eclipse. The steeple of St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Ashippun, Wis., is illuminated. (John Hart / Associated Press)

9/11

A tiny sliver of bright moon was seen during the last phase of the total lunar eclipse from the Griffith Observatory. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

10/11

A capacity crowd gathered at the Griffith Observatory to view the lunar eclipse. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

11/11

The moon glows in the sky as people wait at the Griffith Observatory for the lunar eclipse. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

By a Times Staff Writer

April 14, 2014 11:31 PM PT

The first lunar eclipse of 2014 — known as “blood moon” — is lighting up social media tonight as people post photos of the moon and the eclipse.

Large crowd descended on the Griffith Observatory to look at the eclipse.

They posted a variety of photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Here is a sampling:

In Los Angeles, the most impressive part began around 11 p.m. when the first “bite” is taken out of the moon. It will be blotted out entirely by 12:06 a.m. Tuesday, said experts at the observatory.

Look to the south for the moon, said Joe Sirard, an amateur astronomer who is also a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard.

As the “bite” spreads across the moon, it will transform into a dark “blood moon.” The dark red hue will come from the light of sunsets and sunrises over the rest of the Earth.

The weather forecast for prime “blood moon” viewing in Los Angeles couldn’t be much better.

“We’ll have clear skies — even down to the beaches,” Sirard said.

It will also be a great time to see Mars, which will be the brightest point of light near the moon, Sirard said. The second-brightest will be the star Spica in the constellation Virgo.

If you plan to watch the eclipse, try not to be too late, he said.

Once the eclipse “becomes total … it might be somewhat hard to see at that point,” Sirard said.