A Supermoon and Lunar Eclipse Will Light Up and Darken Tuesday’s Night Sky

A Supermoon and Lunar Eclipse Will Light Up and Darken Tuesday’s Night Sky

One of the largest and brightest full moons of the year will be partially obscured by Earth’s shadow.

 

On Tuesday, there will be a partial lunar eclipse during a supermoon in the night sky. Almost anybody in the Western Hemisphere can witness this astronomical splendor, which serves as yet another reminder that our planet is a small part of a larger cosmic system.

When is the lunar eclipse, and where can I see it?

The largest partial phase of this lunar eclipse will commence at 10:44 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday and will last until 12:47 a.m. on Wednesday.

Most of the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe will be able to see it. The Planetary Society’s head scientist, Bruce Betts, will be viewing the program from his Pasadena,California front yard.

According to Dr. Betts, eclipses provide an opportunity to experience “the three-dimensional nature of everything.” “It’s something that just makes me say, wow,” viscerally.

What causes a lunar eclipse?

The sun, Earth, and moon align to produce lunar eclipses. This solar eclipse will be different from the one that occurred in April in that some of the moon’s sunlit surface will be obscured by the Earth’s shadow spilling over the moon.

Lunar eclipses come in three different varieties.

A penumbral eclipse occurs when the moon merely passes through the penumbra, or outermost portion, of Earth’s shadow.

The most recent one occurred in March. The moon’s face somewhat dims as a result.

On the other hand, a total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is completely engulfed in the umbra, the darkest region of Earth’s shadow.

In this case, there is a “blood moon,” or crimson light on the lunar surface.

Then there are partial lunar eclipses, such as the one that, should the sky be clear, spectators will witness on Tuesday night.

The moon will only partially enter Earth’s umbra, causing part of its face to become black. Dr. Betts predicted that the Earth’s shadow will begin to eat away at the moon, “like taking a small, dark bite out of the moon.”

However, he cautioned, make sure to set realistic expectations because Tuesday’s eclipse will only cover 3.5 percent of the lunar surface. Maybe you’re thinking, Is a lunar eclipse this small really that impressive?

Dr. Betts stated that it is still worthwhile to visit.

“However, you don’t have to be too depressed if it’s cloudy.” He suggests taking a moment to look up at the night sky and look for constellations and planets you are familiar with, while you are out moongazing. He continued, “It’s worth a look-see.”

When is a lunar eclipse visible?

The lunar eclipse is visible to everyone on Earth’s night side, though visibility will be best in areas with lower light levels. While binoculars or a telescope can be used to focus in on the moon’s finer characteristics during the event, it will still be visible with the unaided eye.

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The show’s most dramatic sequence, which lasts for approximately an hour, features the Moon being partially obscured by Earth’s umbra. The moon will go through Earth’s penumbral shadow both before and after this, appearing full but with less brightness.

Each of the eclipse’s penumbral phases will last roughly 1.5 hours.

Depending on your location, you will be able to witness different parts of the eclipse. Because the moon will be below the horizon, sky watchers on the West Coast of North America will miss the most of the first penumbral phase.

However, the entire event will be seen to people on the East Coast. Approximately four hours will pass before the show ends.

Is this really happening during a supermoon?

The full moon in September is a supermoon. Because they occur at the closest point of the lunar orbit to Earth, these are the largest and brightest full moons. In fact, this month’s supermoon is the second of four that will occur this year.

On August 19, there was a blue moon, the most recent supermoon. The next two supermoons are scheduled for October 17 and November 15 in the evenings.

Are there going to be any more astronomical events soon?

Solar eclipses, which happen when the moon travels to the other side of Earth and passes directly in front of the sun, are always preceded by lunar eclipses.

The next solar eclipse won’t resemble the vast event that occurred in April in the slightest: on October 2, an annular solar eclipse will only be visible from the Pacific Ocean and the southernmost tip of South America.

A total lunar eclipse will light up the night skies over Western Europe, Western Africa, and the Americas in March of next year.