Skygazers have the opportunity to witness a rare celestial event this week with a partial lunar eclipse coinciding with a supermoon. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when Earth’s shadow partially covers the moon, creating a reddish hue. This particular eclipse will be visible in the northern hemisphere, including all lower 48 states in the United States. The peak of the eclipse is expected at 10:44 p.m. EDT on Tuesday night, with the moon gradually emerging from the shadow by Wednesday morning.
In addition to the eclipse, September’s full moon, known as the Harvest Moon, is also a supermoon. Supermoons occur when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth in its orbit, making it appear larger and brighter. The Harvest Moon will be visible from Monday evening through Thursday morning.
Looking ahead, the next celestial event to watch out for is a “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse on October 2. This type of eclipse occurs when the moon appears slightly smaller than the sun, creating a ring of light around the moon’s silhouette. The eclipse will be visible from parts of South America, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and Antarctica. The next total lunar eclipse visible to the entire United States is not expected until March 14, 2025.
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