Harvest Moon Supermoon and Partial Lunar Eclipse: What to Expect Tonight! ????

Double Celestial Event on Sept. 17, 2024

On the night of Sept. 17, skywatchers are in for a spectacular treat—a supermoon coinciding with a partial lunar eclipse. This rare event offers a stunning display in the night sky, blending the large, bright supermoon with the shadowy effects of a lunar eclipse.

What Makes It a Supermoon?

A supermoon happens when the full moon is closest to Earth, making it appear bigger and brighter. This particular full moon, known as the Harvest Moon, is the second of four supermoons in 2024, making it an extra special sight.

The Partial Lunar Eclipse: A Glimpse of Earth's Shadow

During the partial lunar eclipse, Earth’s shadow will take a "bite" out of the moon, turning part of its surface a murky red-brown color. The eclipse will be visible from:

• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Africa
• Parts of Asia and Russia

The eclipse’s darkest moment will occur at 10:44 p.m. EDT for those in the Eastern U.S., and at 3:45 a.m. BST in London on Sept. 18.

The Science Behind the Lunar Eclipse

Lunar eclipses occur when the sun, Earth, and moon align. Earth casts a shadow on the moon, with two shadow types playing a role:

• Umbra: The darkest part of Earth’s shadow.
• Penumbra: The lighter outer shadow.

In this partial eclipse, about 3.5% of the moon’s surface will be covered by the umbra, giving the appearance of a dark "bite" on the moon.

Supermoon and Eclipse: A Cosmic Combo

This event is made even more special by the supermoon. While most of the moon will take on a reddish-brown hue from the penumbra, a small portion will be covered by the umbra. This combination of supermoon and lunar eclipse creates a rare and magical night sky display.

Make sure to look up tonight—you won’t want to miss this extraordinary supermoon lunar eclipse!