Observatory Opens for Total Eclipse of the Moon

If the weather cooperates, the Westmont Observatory will open for the viewing of a rare lunar event beginning Thursday, March 13, at 10 pm and lasting until Friday, March 14, at 1 am. The powerful Keck Telescope will zoom in on a total lunar eclipse, which will be visible throughout North American and in some locations in South America. The last total lunar eclipse in the U.S. was November 2022. 

The moon starts entering Earth’s shadow at 8:57 pm with the full eclipse beginning at 11:26 pm. Maximum eclipse is at 11:58 p.m. The moon will then move out of Earth’s shadow by 3 am Friday morning. 

“You can easily see this event without a telescope,” says Jen Ito, assistant professor of physics and director of the Westmont Observatory. “I encourage you to take a peek even if you don’t stay up for the whole thing.”

The observatory, which opens every third Friday of the month to the public, will be open again on Friday, March 21, beginning at 6:30 pm and lasting several hours. 

Free parking is available near the Westmont Observatory, which is between the baseball field and the track and field/soccer complex. To enter Westmont’s campus, please use the Main Entrance off La Paz Road. The lower entrance off Cold Spring Road is closed to visitors after 7 pm.

In case of overcast weather, please call the Telescope Viewing Hotline at (805) 565-6272 and check the observatory website to see if the viewing has been canceled.