Viewing a total lunar eclipse is a subtle yet inspiring event. The ever-present moon takes on a strange shape not normally seen and at the event peak, the moon’s color turns to a red or amber. Stars peek out closer to the moon as the sun’s reflection is no longer direct and harsh. If you are seeking out the next Michigan 2022 lunar eclipse in the upper Great Lakes region we have you covered.
The eclipse was be seen from half of the Earth’s surface. Although the Americas were favored, watchers in northern Europe, eastern Asia, Australia, and the Pacific also noticed the event. The star denotes the location in the mid-Pacific Ocean where the Moon will be completely obscured.
Full Lunar Eclipse in Michigan Monday, May 16, 2022
On May 16, 2022, the eclipse will be complete for about half of North America, including Michigan. Viewers will see 100 percent of the Moon in shadow during mid-eclipse. Those wishing to get a glimpse of this celestial spectacle may start to see the Preumbral event starting Monday evening at 9:32 pm. By 11:29 pm, the moon starts to totally enter the earth’s shadow. The umbral event peaks at 12:11 am. The moon will be in the Umbra shadow for 1 hour and 25 minutes. By 2:50 am, the lunar eclipse will be over.
The eclipse was seen from half of the Earth’s surface. The Americas are favored, watchers in northern Europe, west Africa, and the South Pacific will also witness the event.
What Will Happen To the Moon May 16, 2022
The complete eclipse begins around 9:32 am EST, with a gray penumbral shadow splitting the Moon. The greatest amount of shadow was be observed between 11:29 pm and 12:53 am EST. During that almost hour and a half, the Moon will pass through mid-eclipse (when it is the deepest) and slowly rise again. The partial eclipse event will end at 2:50 am, for a total event period of roughly 5 hours and 19 minutes.
Viewing Opportunities For Seeing the Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse In the Upper Thumb
The ability to see the Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse will depend on the weather forecast. If we are lucky and it clears up, the best place to see it may be Port Crescent State Park near Port Austin. The park is one of two dark sky preserves and parks in Michigan’s lower peninsula that offer stellar celestial viewing. These locations limit the amount of artificial light, making them prime dark sky viewing areas.
We typically have two lunar eclipses every year, while some years have three or none. The eclipse that took place last November 2021 was considerably better, though not total.
Second Lunar Eclipse in Michigan November 8, 2022
The second of two total lunar eclipses scheduled for 2022 is visible with the naked eye. The Algonquin tribes referred to the full moon as the beaver moon since this was the time of year when beaver traps were erected to capture their furs for the winter. During the lunar eclipse, the moon will progressively turn red.
What Makes A Lunar Eclipse?
A lunar eclipse happens only during a full moon when the Moon aligns with the Earth and passes into its shadow. On Earth, at dusk on any clear evening, you can see the planet’s shadow rise along the eastern horizon. It appears as a purplish-gray band and extends halfway around the sky. The shadow is divided into an inner, black umbra where the Earth’s globe hides the sun and an outer penumbra. Because the Earth only partially covers the sun in the outer shadow, some sunlight sneaks in and dilutes the shadow.
The Moon would seem black during a total lunar eclipse if the Earth did not have an atmosphere. The atmosphere, however, refracts reddish sunlight brushing the planet’s edge into the Earth’s umbra, giving the lunar disk a red tinge during totality. Another impact is that the stars may be seen right up to the Moon’s edge since the Moon’s light reflection has been subdued.
Why is the Moon Red During a Total Lunar Eclipse?
When sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, it is refracted towards the surface, and some of it—colors with shorter wavelengths—is scattered and filtered out, while the remainder, such as orange and red, passes through. This light is refracted once again towards the totally eclipsed Moon’s surface, lighting it with a reddish-orange glow. A total lunar eclipse is sometimes referred to as a Blood Moon because of this.
A Solar Eclipse Always Happens Near a Lunar Eclipse
A lunar eclipse is usually two weeks before or after a solar eclipse. Normally, there are two eclipses in a row; however, there have been occasions when there have been three eclipses in a row within the same eclipse season. On April 30, 2022, there will be another partial solar eclipse.
When is the Next Full Eclipse for North America in 2022?
The full lunar eclipse of May 16, 2022, is the second one of 2022. The first partial eclipse is April 30th but is only visible in South America. The next good opportunity for North America to see a total eclipse will be in the early morning of November 7-8, 2022. But unfortunately, after that, it looks like you will have to wait until March 13-14, 2025, to see the next one.
Lunar Eclipse Artwork For Your Beach House
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Michigan’s 2022 Meteor Showers
Here is a list of the timings of the top meteor showers that could be viewed in Michigan for the rest of 2022.
April 21–22, 2022 – Lyrids Meteor Shower
The Lyrids meteor shower peaks on the evening of April 21–22, 2022, with an average of 10 meteors per hour visible between midnight and daybreak in a dark, clear sky. At the peak, you may be able to see up to 20 shooting stars every hour if we’re lucky. The Lyrids are notorious for leaving long-lasting brilliant dust trails. On the other hand, the moon’s brilliance may overwhelm fainter meteors.
This meteor shower should be seen from Michigan, as the meteors’ radiant is high in the sky. At the peak of the Lyrids this year, the Moon will be in a waning gibbous phase; thus, the best viewing will be between the late-night hours of April 21 and the moonrise on April 22.
May 4–5, 2022 – Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
If you’re lucky and the circumstances are ideal, you might be able to detect the Eta Aquarids closer to the horizon. Look for the Eta Aquarids meteors in the early pre-dawn hours of May 5, when Michigan and the Northern Hemisphere can view up to 30 meteors per hour. This year, the thin waxing crescent Moon will have little effect. The Eta Aquarids are formed by the dust and debris emitted by Halley’s Comet as it orbits the Sun. This meteor shower is most impressive in the Southern Hemisphere when the meteors’ radiant is higher in the sky.
August 11–13, 2022 – Perseids Meteor Shower
Early risers may glimpse one of the year’s most active meteor showers just before the Cheeseburger Festival in Caseville. This event has the potential to produce up to 60 meteors per hour. On a clear day, the Perseids offer one of the most incredible meteor-viewing opportunities of the year. Swift-Tuttle, a periodic comet, causes the Perseids. Unfortunately, they will compete directly with the Full Sturgeon Moon, which rises on August 11th.
Because the full Moon’s brightness will wash out the Perseids as they streak through the sky for much of the night, your most excellent chance of seeing them will be a couple of hours before dawn when the Moon is closer to setting.
October 8–10, 2022 – Draconids Meteor Shower
The Draconids aren’t the most spectacular show of the year, but they do signal the start of a busy meteor shower season. After the Draconids, a meteor shower is evident about every two weeks until the end of the year. Giacobini-Zinner, a periodic comet, is responsible for the Draconids. With a modest rate of 10 meteors per hour, the Draconids peak a few days during the Full Hunter’s Moon on October 9, so expect the meteors to be overshadowed by the Moon’s brightness. In addition, these meteors seem to peak earlier in the night than others, so search for streaks in the sky as soon as it’s dark enough to see the stars.
October 20–21, 2022 – Orionids Meteor Shower
The Orionid meteor shower is named after one of the most well-known constellations in the sky, Orion, which appears to be the source of these meteors. The Orionid meteor shower is the second batch of meteors produced by Halley’s Comet, a well-known short-period comet. The meteor shower is caused by the constellation Orion. Because the event will occur during a waning crescent Moon, visibility should be good. The Orionids are famous for having some of the brightest and fastest streaking stars. They appear in mid-October and reach a maximum of 20 meteors per hour before dawn on October 21.
Taurids Meteor Shower – Nov. 4-5, 2022
The Taurids meteor shower is two streams created by the erratic asteroid 2004 TG10 and the periodic Encke’s Comet. This event is below average, with ten meteors per hour. Every year from September 7 to December 10, this celestial phenomenon occurs.
November 16–17, 2022 – Leonids Meteor Shower
On average, the Leonids produce 10 to 15 shooting stars every hour. Still, on rare occasions, they have been known to trigger “meteor storms,” which result in hundreds of meteors speeding across the sky! Tempel-Tuttle, a periodic comet, causes the Leonids. The meteor shower is caused by the constellation Leo. This meteor shower will occur during the Moon’s last quarter.
December 13–14, 2022 – Geminids Meteor Shower
The December full moon rises on December 7, a week before the Geminid meteor shower peaks at an incredible 120 meteors per hour. As a result, the maximum visibility will be dueling with a waning gibbous Moon. The Geminids are an uncommon meteor shower created by Comet 3200 Phaethon.
Related Reading For Michigan’s Star Gazing & Lunar Eclipse
Astronomers View the Stars & Lunar Eclipse at Michigan’s Port Crescent State Park – Huron County, Michigan, represents the tip of the “thumb” of the state. The Port Cresent State Park in this rural area provides an ideal view of the stars without light pollution found in the big cities. The Dark Skies Project for nightlife in this community can often represent a connection with nature, including unobstructed stargazing presenting sights not seen elsewhere.
How to Prepare and View the Northern Lights in Michigan – Being a year-round tourist destination, Michigan packs a treasure trove of attractions for all kinds of travelers. Of course, seeing the northern lights in Michigan is a year’s highlight.
Camp or Glamp On The Beach & Under the Stars in Michigan’s Thumb – It used to be that staying overnight in a state park meant pitching a tent or hauling an RV. Of course, visitors can still do that, but as travelers’ needs and preferences have changed, so have the options available with Michigan State Park lodging.
Midnight on Hurons Dunes – Standing on an ancient Lake Huron dune where our cottage sits, listening to the surf…
Secrets of Michigan’s Albert E. Sleeper State Park – Sleeper State Park was the first state park in the Thumb. It has been a place to visit for over 95 years with an excellent beach and modern campsites. Named for Michigan Governor and local businessman Albert E. Sleeper, the park is one of two state parks in the Upper Thumb. Visitors can watch both sunrises and sunsets on Saginaw Bay. Rest and relax in the shade and seclusion under the tall oaks in the campground Roam the trails of the ancient dune forests.
