Lunar Eclipse Coming This Sunday
There's a total lunar eclipse coming on the evening of Sunday, September 27--it's the last of a set of four that have come six months apart in the past two years. The entire eclipse will be visible in eastern North America and western Europe (it's Monday morning in Europe). The moon will rise rise partially eclipsed on the US west coast.
Start of Penumbral Phase: 8:12 pm EDT, 7:12 CDT, 6:12 MDT, 5:12 PDT. At this moment, the moon is the most full it ever gets, and appears exceptionally bright. Well, incrementally brighter than the usual full moon, anyway. This is utterly invisible for the first 20 minutes or so, and then gradually turns into a subtle shading across the moon.
Start of Partial Phase: 9:07 pm EDT, 8:07 CDT, 7:07 MDT, 6:07 PDT. The eclipse will be obviously visible as we can see the silhouette of the earth covering the moon. For a sense of wonder, remind yourself that you are seeing our own shadow. The curve of that shadow reveals the size of the earth compared to the moon.
Start of Total Phase: 10:11 pm EDT, 9:11 CDT, 8:11 MDT, 7:11 PDT. At this point the moon is entirely in the earth's shadow, and the red color of the inner shadow becomes visible.
End of Total Phase: 11:23 pm EDT, 10:23 CDT, 9:23 MDT, 8:23 PDT. Again, you can see the earth's silhouette projected on the moon.
End of Partial Phase: 12:27 am EDT, 11:27 pm CDT, 10:27 MDT, 9:27 PDT. Tthe moon is just dimmer on one side, and that effect gradually fades away.
End of Penumbral Phase: 1:22 am EDT, 12:22 CDT, 11:22 MDT, 10:22 PDT. The eclipse is over. Again, the moon is the fullest and brightest it can be.
The next significant eclipse in North America will be the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017.
Start of Penumbral Phase: 8:12 pm EDT, 7:12 CDT, 6:12 MDT, 5:12 PDT. At this moment, the moon is the most full it ever gets, and appears exceptionally bright. Well, incrementally brighter than the usual full moon, anyway. This is utterly invisible for the first 20 minutes or so, and then gradually turns into a subtle shading across the moon.
Start of Partial Phase: 9:07 pm EDT, 8:07 CDT, 7:07 MDT, 6:07 PDT. The eclipse will be obviously visible as we can see the silhouette of the earth covering the moon. For a sense of wonder, remind yourself that you are seeing our own shadow. The curve of that shadow reveals the size of the earth compared to the moon.
Start of Total Phase: 10:11 pm EDT, 9:11 CDT, 8:11 MDT, 7:11 PDT. At this point the moon is entirely in the earth's shadow, and the red color of the inner shadow becomes visible.
End of Total Phase: 11:23 pm EDT, 10:23 CDT, 9:23 MDT, 8:23 PDT. Again, you can see the earth's silhouette projected on the moon.
End of Partial Phase: 12:27 am EDT, 11:27 pm CDT, 10:27 MDT, 9:27 PDT. Tthe moon is just dimmer on one side, and that effect gradually fades away.
End of Penumbral Phase: 1:22 am EDT, 12:22 CDT, 11:22 MDT, 10:22 PDT. The eclipse is over. Again, the moon is the fullest and brightest it can be.
The next significant eclipse in North America will be the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017.