8 Nov 2022

The science behind tonight's total lunar eclipse

From Nights, 10:10 pm on 8 November 2022

You won't see another one of these until 2025.

Tonight's the night we can look upward and see a total lunar eclipse - definitely a sight not to be missed.

But what can stargazers expect to see? What's the science behind the spectacle? And will the weather put a damper on things?

Astronomer and Otago Museum director Dr Ian Griffin has all the answers.

Blood Moon, total lunar eclipse in Charlotte, NC, United States on 15 May 2022.

Blood Moon, total lunar eclipse in Charlotte, NC, United States on 15 May 2022. Photo: Anadolu Agency via AFP