Total lunar eclipse 2022 date: Chandra Grahan to turn moon red on May 15; Here's how to watch LIVE online

The first total lunar eclipse of 2022 will take place on May 15-16. Know the lunar eclipse 2022 date and how you can watch it online.

Know how and where to watch total lunar eclipse 2022 online. (NASA)

Recently on April 30, the first solar eclipse (a partial solar eclipse) of 2022 took place and now the year will see its first total lunar eclipse. Lunar eclipse 2022 date is on the night of May 15-16 and on May 16, 2022 (the night of May 15 in the Western Hemisphere), the Moon will enter the Earth's shadow, creating a total lunar eclipse, the first since May of 2021, NASA said. But will you be able to see the first total lunar eclipse (chandra grahan) of the year? Well it all depends on your time zone. Between the late evening of May 15 and the early morning of May 16, the eastern half of the United States and all of South America will have the opportunity to see every stage of the lunar eclipse. Totality will be visible in much of Africa, western Europe, Central and South America, and most of North America.

"The total lunar eclipse of May 16, 2022 (the night of May 15 in the Western Hemisphere) occurs near perigee, making the Moon appear about 7% larger than average. This eclipse is ideally timed for viewing from most of the Western Hemisphere, including the Lower 48 of the United States. The total phase occurs near moonset in Africa and western Europe," NASA said in a report.

According to a report by space.come quoting TimeandDate.com, "the partial eclipse will begin on May 15 at 10:28 p.m. EDT (0228 GMT on May 16), reaching its maximum on May 16 at 12:11 a.m. EDT (0411 GMT). That total eclipse effect can give the moon a reddish hue known as a Blood Moon. It will conclude at 1:55 a.m. EDT (0555 GMT). The penumbral eclipse will begin about an hour earlier and end about an hour after the partial eclipse."

What is a lunar eclipse

According to NASA, a lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so that the Moon passes into Earth's shadow. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon falls within the darkest part of Earth's shadow, called the umbra. When the Moon is within the umbra, it will turn a reddish hue. Lunar eclipses are sometimes called “Blood Moons” because of this phenomenon.

How to watch total lunar eclipse 2022 online

NASA will feature livestreams of the eclipse from locations across the United States. It will also host an episode of NASA Science Live, from 11 p.m. – 12 a.m. ET. You can watch the eclipse on NASA's official page on Facebook, YouTube, NASA Television, NASA.gov/live.

However, in case you miss the chance to watch the total lunar eclipse, do not worry as the year 2022 will witness another total lunar eclipse happening later this year on November 8.