Prepare to witness a captivating celestial event! On September 17th, 2024, a partial lunar eclipse will grace the skies, coinciding with a supermoon. This supermoon, the second of four consecutive ones this year, will be a slightly larger-than-usual full moon due to its proximity to Earth at perigee, its closest point in its elliptical orbit.
While this supermoon lunar eclipse will be a spectacle for many, it won’t be visible in India. However, observers in North and South America, Europe, and parts of Africa and Asia will have the opportunity to witness this celestial display. The eclipse will be most visible across North America, all of South America, and Europe. It will also be visible in the easternmost part of Africa, western parts of Asia and Russia, and certain areas of Antarctica.
Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow upon the moon. This event serves as a testament to Earth’s spherical shape, as the shadow creates a distinct curved shape on the lunar surface.
September’s lunar eclipse will be a minor one, with only the upper portion of the moon entering the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra. Despite its minor nature, this eclipse promises an intriguing view of the moon’s craters and other features, especially for those using telescopes or binoculars.
The timing of the eclipse will vary depending on your location. For those in the Eastern time zone of the United States, the eclipse will reach its darkest phase around 10:44 p.m. EDT on September 17th. Europe and Africa will witness the eclipse during the pre-dawn hours on September 18th. For London, the eclipse will appear at its greatest around 3:45 a.m. British Standard Time on September 18th.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to witness the celestial dance of the moon and Earth! Mark your calendars and prepare to be amazed by the beauty of a supermoon lunar eclipse.
