201901.21
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Crowd gathers in Upper Newport Bay to catch view of total lunar eclipse

by in News

  • Myrra Uppuluri, 9, and her mother Priya of Mission Viejo peer through a telescope at the moon as it begins to go into a lunar eclipse during the OC Parks lunar eclipse viewing parting at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center at the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve in Newport Beach on Sunday, January 20, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A total lunar eclipse seen from the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center at the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve in Newport Beach on Sunday, January 20, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  • Alex Nguyen, 10, of Anaheim looks through a telescope during the OC Parks lunar eclipse viewing parting at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center at the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve in Newport Beach on Sunday, January 20, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • People gather on the roof of the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center at the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve during the OC Parks lunar eclipse viewing parting to witness the total lunar eclipse in Newport Beach on Sunday, January 20, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Families take turns looking through telescopes at the lunar eclipse during a lunar eclipse viewing parting at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center at the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve in Newport Beach on Sunday, January 20, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • People gather in the patio at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center at the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve during the OC Parks lunar eclipse viewing parting to witness the total lunar eclipse in Newport Beach on Sunday, January 20, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The views of the crystal blue water and emerald green shores of Upper Newport Bay took a back seat for once as folks looked skyward to watch Sunday night’s total lunar eclipse.

The lunar eclipse – the movement of the moon into the Earth’s shadow – was the last one Southern Californians will be able to see from start to finish until 2025.

OC Parks hosted the viewing party at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center in the bay, offering telescopes, binoculars and experts to guide people through the event. There also were activities for kids.

The viewing party was one of several hosted around Orange County; OC Parks also had a couple of evening hikes planned to enjoy the celestial event.