Share
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Here comes a total lunar eclipse and supermoon, all wrapped into one.
The moon, Earth and sun will line up this weekend for the only total lunar eclipse this year and next. At the same time, the moon will be ever so closer to Earth and appear slightly bigger and brighter than usual — a supermoon.
The whole eclipse starts Sunday night or early Monday, depending on location, and will take about three hours.
It begins with the partial phase around 10:34 p.m. EST Sunday. That’s when Earth’s shadow will begin to nip at the moon. Totality — when Earth’s shadow completely blankets the moon — will last 62 minutes, beginning at 11:41 p.m. EST Sunday.
If the skies are clear, the entire eclipse will be visible in North and South America, as well as Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, Portugal and the French and Spanish coasts. The rest of Europe, as well as Africa, will have partial viewing before the moon sets. Some places will be livestreaming it, including the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
During totality, the moon will look red because of sunlight scattering off Earth’s atmosphere. That’s why an eclipsed moon is sometimes known as a blood moon. In January, the full moon is also sometimes known as the wolf moon or great spirit moon.
The Eclipse Will Begin Relatively Early Sunday Evening
So informally speaking, the upcoming lunar eclipse will be a super blood wolf — or great spirit — moon.
In the U.S., the eclipse will begin relatively early Sunday evening, making it easier for children to stay up and enjoy the show. Plus the next day is a federal holiday, with most schools closed. But the weather forecast for much of the U.S. doesn’t look good.
“The good thing about this is that you don’t need any special equipment,” he added.
Asia, Australia and New Zealand are out of luck. But they had prime viewing last year, when two total lunar eclipses occurred.
The next total lunar eclipse won’t be until May 2021.
As for full-moon supermoons, this will be the first of three this year. The upcoming supermoon will be about 222,000 miles (357,300 kilometers) away. The Feb. 19 supermoon will be a bit closer and the one on March 20 will be the farthest.
RELATED TOPICS:
Fresno Firefighters Save Dog From Canal and Now She’s Ready for Adoption
14 hours ago
Big Brands Spend Just Enough on X to Avoid Musk’s ‘Naughty List’
15 hours ago
Judge Dismisses Corruption Case Against New York City Mayor Eric Adams
15 hours ago
Why Project Labor Agreements Are Good for Our Schools and Students: Opinion
16 hours ago
Western US Sees Sharp Increase in Extreme Weather Impact
16 hours ago
Amazon Said to Make a Bid to Buy TikTok in the US
16 hours ago
Fresno Man Found Dead, Coroner’s Office Seeks Help Finding Family
17 hours ago
Senate Rebukes Trump’s Tariffs as Some Republicans Vote to Halt Taxes on Canadian Imports
10 hours ago
Categories

Senate Rebukes Trump’s Tariffs as Some Republicans Vote to Halt Taxes on Canadian Imports

Supreme Court Sides With the FDA in Its Dispute Over Sweet-Flavored Vaping Products

Trump Announces Sweeping New Tariffs to Promote US Manufacturing, Risking Inflation and Trade Wars

Fresno Firefighters Save Dog From Canal and Now She’s Ready for Adoption

Big Brands Spend Just Enough on X to Avoid Musk’s ‘Naughty List’
