“Supermoons” aren’t all that special in themselves—the Moon simply appears slightly larger than normal—but when one coincides with a lunar eclipse this weekend, skywatchers in North America and many other parts of the world are still in for a treat. Best of all, it won’t come at some ridiculous early-morning hour that you’ll “forget” to set your alarm for like some other astronomical events.
The eclipse will begin on Sunday, September 27 at 10:11 EDT, which will allow viewers in the Eastern half of North America to see all the phases of the Moon passing through the Earth’s shadow—including the full eclipse when the Moon takes on a reddish, “blood Moon” hue. It’ll also be mostly or entirely visible to much of Western Europe, Northwest Africa, and all of South America, though not always at such a comfortably early local hour.
In the Western half of the United States, the eclipse will already be in progress when the Moon rises, though there should still be a pretty good show. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses aren’t dangerous to look at, so you’ll just need your eyeballs and a clear view of the sky to enjoy it.
(via USA Today)
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Published: Sep 23, 2015 10:01 am