The last four lunar eclipses have all been penumbral! It was a truly noteworthy string of subpar eclipses even if some in the media remarkably proclaimed two of those as “super,” too. And that’s the kind with which we’ve lately been plagued.
These include the penumbral lunar eclipses, when the Full Moon basically doesn’t change so there’s nothing to see. These are the partial solar eclipses (which require special filters for eye safety) as well as the total and partial lunar eclipses dicussed above.īut there’s yet another category, a somewhat secret grouping rarely mentioned by our hype-dominated press: the ones not worth setting an alarm for.
But most other eclipse varieties are still fascinating to observe. Nothing comes close to such a solar totality in terms of spectacle. But those average just once every 360 years for any given location, and usually requires a pilgrimage. The grandest variety, so powerful it often makes people weep, is a total solar eclipse, when pink flames or prominences leap from the Sun’s edge. Remember, the word “eclipse” can mean anything from a life-altering experience to a dud. In a partial eclipse, Earth’s shadow appears to take a bite out of the moon. Prior to totality, a “partial lunar eclipse” happens. A small part of the Moon’s surface is covered by the darkest, central part of the Earth’s shadow, called the umbra. This is because some sunrays still make it through Earth’s atmosphere to the Moon. This reddish hue is why some folks call a total lunar eclipse a ” Blood Moon.” A more perfect alignment would result in a deeper, longer total eclipse.įor those who see totality, the Moon will appear a reddish-orange color. On May 26, the Earth, Moon, and Sun are not in perfectly alignment so the full Moon doesn’t travel through the very center of Earth’s shadow. What you see is the Earth’s shadow covering the Moon. The Earth blocks the Moon so that the Sun’s light can not light up the Moon’s disk. The main question is: Why so short?Īs a reminder, a total eclipse of the Moon happens when Earth comes between the Sun and the Full Moon so that all three are in alignment.
That can be nice and compact or subpar, depending on your view. The total eclipse, or the time when the Moon is in deepest shadow, will last less than 15 minutes. and Canada forget about this immediately, since nothing’s happening. And those on the West coast who aren’t eclipse fanatics or astronomers should probably sleep this one out too, and instead circle November 19 on their calendar (see more on that below). I recommend that those in the eastern U.S. and Canada see nothing whatsoever, since the Moon sets before the action begins. Even further east the situation is hopeless. In Denver, for example, a partial lunar eclipse unfolds in the hours before dawn, but the Moon sets before totality begins. PDT (not directly visible)įurther east, observers won’t get a fair chance.
PDT (The Earth’s penumbra starts touching the Moon’s face.) Pacific Daylight Time (Wednesday, May 26) Yes, this total lunar eclipse happens before dawn! It’s also very low on the horizon so make sure your view to the Southwest horizon is clear and not blocked by houses, trees, or hills. The winners will be those with unobstructed Pacific Ocean views who are willing to set the alarm for about 3:30 AM. In North America, it’s only a total lunar eclipse for those on or near the West Coast. Advertisement This One’s for the West Coast