A few weeks ago, a partial solar eclipse it was visible in parts of Europe, Africa and Asia, and now it’s North America, South America and Australasia’s turn to enjoy a spectacle from the skies. This week we will see a total lunar eclipse visible in parts of these regions, giving you the last chance to capture a total lunar eclipse until 2025.
If you fancy stargazing, we have details on how to view the eclipse below.
What to expect from the lunar eclipse
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is directly between the sun and the moon. That means that the light coming from the sun is blocked by the Earth, casting the moon in the shadow. As the shadow moves across the moon, it creates a dark shape called the umbra, where light is completely blocked, and also an area called the penumbra where light is partially blocked.
This has some fascinating effects on how the moon appears in the sky. You will be able to see more stars that are close to the moon because they are not blocked by its glare, and the moon will appear red due to the refraction of light passing through the Earth’s atmosphere. According to Sky & Telescopethis is also a good time to look for planets like Uranus, which may be visible if you have binoculars, because it is at its closest and brightest around the night of the eclipse.
You can even catch some meteors buzzing around for the ones that will be more visible in less moonlight.
How to see the lunar eclipse
The lunar eclipse will occur on Tuesday, November 8, and will be visible in North America in the early morning, weather permitting. Later in the day it will be visible in South America, then in the afternoon it will be visible in parts of Asia and then in Australasia. For details on which parts of the event will be visible in which time zones, see the Sky & Telescope table showing display times.
You don’t need any special equipment to view the lunar eclipse, although if you have binoculars or a telescope, this is a great excuse to use them. Bundle up and head to an area with as little light around you as possible to get the best view of the skies.
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