Oregon will see a "supermoon" total lunar eclipse on May 26

(MAY 17, 2021) If you like looking at the stars, then you will be happy on May 26. That's when there will be a supermoon total lunar eclipse. And most of the eclipse will be visible in Oregon.

According to Macmillan American Dictionary, a lunar eclipse is "a short period when the moon becomes dark." Why? "Because the Earth moves between the sun and the moon so that its shadow covers the moon."

Lunar eclipses happen only once or twice a year. A total lunar eclipse can last a couple of hours. Unlike solar eclipses (when the moon passes in front of the sun), a lunar eclipse is safe to watch without special eye protection.

In Portland, this eclipse will begin at 1:47 a.m. on May 26. By 4:11 a.m., the moon should be totally dark. This will last about 14 minutes. Then the shadow will slowly fade.

People may notice that the moon looks a little larger than usual. That's because it's a "supermoon." That means the moon is closer to the Earth than other times of the year. At its closest, the moon is 222,023 miles from the Earth.