The eclipse will begin around 9:30 p.m. and reach totality around midnight, the result of the moon passing through Earth’s shadow. During the eclipse, the moon will take on a red tint derived from Earth’s atmosphere, hence the “blood moon” moniker. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the term “wolf moon” comes from Native Americans, who named it such due to hungry wolf packs howling outside Indian villages during the cold, snowy winter months. January’s full moon is also known as the snow moon and ice moon. 

• The Learning Center at PARI will host a lunar eclipse event beginning at 6 p.m. Jan. 20 featuring hands-on science experiments, presentations, exhibit tours, dinner and night sky observation with Learning Center educators at PARI’s Sky Deck. The eclipse will reach totality at 12:12 a.m. Tickets are $25 for children 6 to 10 and $50 for people over 10. RSVP at 828.862.5554 or www.pari.edu. 
• The Smoky Mountain STEM Collaborative will host an eclipse viewing at the Jackson County Airport beginning at 10 p.m. Jan. 20. The event will include information on lunar geography and other eclipse facts, as well as free hot chocolate. The eclipse will reach totality at 11:41 p.m. and last one hour, two minutes. Free. Contact Randi Neff for information at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..