The best places on Long Island to view the blood moon: Here's what to know

Beachfronts, waterfronts. Open areas, with unobstructed western views.

If you want to watch the blood moon early Tuesday, those are the best places on Long Island from which to see the last total lunar eclipse until 2028.

And that's weather permitting, the National Weather Service said.

On Long Island, the prime locations for viewing are the state parks at Jones Beach, Robert Moses, Sunken Meadow, Wildwood, Orient and Riverhead, according to the state's Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Unlike a solar eclipse, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration — NASA — said it is safe to watch a lunar eclipse with the naked, unprotected eye. Using binoculars or a telescope will make the experience even better, NASA said.

There is just one problem, however. Make that two.

While this lunar eclipse will be observable by more than 3 billion people worldwide, the moon will be low in the sky over Long Island for its entire rise Monday night into Tuesday and is scheduled to set in our area somewhere between 6:24 and 6:28 a.m. Tuesday.

That is at the very heart of the total eclipse phase, which will be from 6:28 to 6:33 a.m.

The National Weather Service is predicting "increasing clouds" in the area, beginning Monday night into Tuesday.

That cloud cover has a good chance to block out all viewing, the weather service said.

"Unfortunately, it's going to be increasing cloud cover," weather service meteorologist Matthew Wunsch said Monday, adding: "The moon already will be low on the horizon — and by the time the lunar eclipse goes into full phase it likely is going to be completely obstructed by clouds."

A lunar eclipse occurs, NASA said, when the Earth passes between the moon and the sun. As it does, the moon will turn "a deep reddish-orange" — known as a blood moon — and this only occurs during a full moon phase.

On the East Coast, moonrise is scheduled for 5:08 p.m. Monday, with the lunar eclipse to begin sometime around 4:50 a.m. The moon should be in close to full eclipse stage by about 6:04 a.m., with the total stage over by 7:03 a.m.

The partial eclipse ends at 8:17 a.m.

The problem for Long Islanders is that NASA said best viewing of the total eclipse will be between 6:28 and 6:33 a.m., and that on Long Island, the moon will set no later than 6:28 a.m. That means even if skies permit it, Long Islanders will miss the best part of the show.

NASA said the best viewing areas will be open, westward-facing areas.

All of this will depend on when clouds roll into the area, and how significant that cloud cover will be.

"Unless you're above it, like in a plane," Wunsch said, "there's a good chance, with the widespread cloud cover, you won't be able to see a thing, It's going to be blocked by the clouds."

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.