‘Penumbral’ lunar eclipse is coming this weekend
Even if your fireworks display is canceled on July Fourth this year because of the coronavirus, there’s still something in the sky to look for over the weekend.
Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday, the full moon will graze Earth’s shadow to create what’s known as a penumbral lunar eclipse, Accuweather said.
Not as spectacular – or noticeable – as a total lunar eclipse, this rather subtle phenomenon occurs when the moon moves through the outer part of Earth’s shadow (known as the penumbra), according to Earthsky.
Weather permitting, the eclipse will be visible in most of North America and all of South America, NASA said.
The eclipse will begin at 11:07 p.m. EDT Saturday and last until 1:52 a.m. EDT Sunday. The best time to look will be around 12:30 a.m. EDT during the middle of the event, according to Accuweather.
Look at the full moon during that time and if skies are clear, you may notice that it’s slightly darker than usual.
Observant people will recognize the shadow, while others won’t spot anything at all, Earthsky said. At best, at mid-eclipse, very observant people will notice a dark shading on the moon’s face.
The western U.S. should enjoy clear skies for the eclipse, Accuweather said, as should much of Texas and parts of the Midwest.
Clouds may be a problem in some areas, especially across the Deep South, New England and swaths of the central U.S.
About 35% of all eclipses are of the penumbral type, which can be difficult to detect even with a telescope, according to eclipse expert Fred Espenak.