This September will be quite the show with a special occasion. We will experience a Partial lunar eclipse tonight and a full moon which is called a supermom all together.

What is a Lunar Eclipse?

In the Partial lunar eclipse tonight only a fragment of the moon passes into Earth’s shadow. This will create a hazy appearance like someone took a bite out of the moon’s surface. This shadow hovering over the moon partially will cause the side of the moon facing the earth to darken.

The visible surface of the moon will be covered about 3.5% by the umbra. An umbra is known as the darkest part of earth’s shadow. During the Partial lunar eclipse tonight, the remaining part of the Full Moon will be immersed with a reddish-brown colour appearance.

This happens because the sun is not entirely blocking the earth and there is a part remaining. In fact it will drop upon the most part of the lunar surface.  So far we have experienced over four supermoons in a row in 2024.

And what makes this Partial lunar eclipse tonight even more exciting and special is it falls during a supermoon. A supermoon is when the moon is looking extra big tonight.

What is a Supermoon?

When a full moon comes in close contact and overlaps with the moons closest point to earth in its orbit a supermoon happens. This causes the moon to appear brighter and larger than when we usually see it. Sometimes this slight difference is not the most easiest to detect with the naked eye.

The good news is, this is not it for 2024. During October right after 2 weeks of the lunar eclipse, you will experience an annual solar eclipse. This will take place on 2nd October. There will be a luminous circle visible over to many countries in the Pacific Ocean.

Conclusion

Getting to witness a lunar eclipse is not for everyday and that is why it gets so many people excited. However, this time its extra special because this is happening during a full moon, which is also called a supermoon. It’s a rare opportunity and many out there are fortunate to experience this happen.  

Key Points

• Tonight, a partial lunar eclipse will cover 3.5% of the moon, creating a reddish-brown appearance.
• The eclipse coincides with a supermoon, making the moon appear larger and brighter.
• In two weeks, on October 2nd, an annular solar eclipse will showcase a luminous ring over many Pacific countries.