Look To The Stars At The Adler's Lunar Eclipse Party

By Gina Provenzano in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 3, 2015 9:05PM

It's a rare occasion that something good happens at 4 a.m. It's often the one quiet time of day where night owls have given into sleep and early birds have yet to rise. But, this weekend it turns out to be an optimal time to look up to the sky. That's why we recommend planning ahead and staying out late on Friday or waking up extra early Saturday morning and heading to the Adler Planetarium for your chance to view the moon slip into the Earth's shadow for an eclipse.

Guests can begin arriving at 3:30 a.m. when the festivities will begin and go through 6:30 a.m. Stargazers will enjoy special lectures, an up-close look with telescoping viewings, tours and refreshments. The eclipse is set to begin at 4:01 a.m.

This event is free to the public with an additional $5 fee for viewings of the feature Back to the Moon for Good and tours of the Doane Observatory, the largest public telescope in the Midwest. In case of cloudy overnight skies, the Planetarium will hold a live simulcast from a clear location indoors. This is the third of four Lunar Eclipses in the 2014-2015 moon phase cycle. The next full eclipse won't occur until Sept. 27, 2015.

Those unable to make it down to the museum campus to view this blood moon, named for its brick red to copper color, shouldn't worry. The eclipse should be viewable from most parts of North America.

The Adler Planetarium is located at 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.