Best bet to see lunar eclipse is on leeward side

Jamm Aquino / Aug. 28, 2007

The best place to see a lunar eclipse late tonight and early Saturday morning is on the leeward side.

Forecasters say cloudy skies could limit viewing of a lunar eclipse in Windward areas.

"The windward side will be mostly cloudy with scattered to numerous showers," said Ian Morrison, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. "I think on the Leeward side you'll be able to see it, although you might get blocked by a passing cloud."

Expect similar weather for the Honolulu Marathon Sunday morning. There's a chance of showers at the start of the race at 5 a.m. Temperatures should be about 68 degrees, rising to about 78 degrees by noon. Tradewinds of 10 to 15 miles per hour from the east and northeast are expected.

Tonight, the full moon over the islands is expected to fade to black or red for about an hour early in the morning. The full moon will begin to move into the shadow of the Earth about 2:45 a.m. and the total phase of the eclipse will be from 4:05 a.m. to 4:55 a.m., said Michael P. Shanahan, director of education, exhibits and the planetarium at the Bishop Museum.

The most recent total lunar eclipse was on June 15. But after Saturday morning, the next will be on April 15, 2014.