This week, space lovers will get a treat. The longest partial lunar eclipse in over 500 years will take place late Thursday night and into the early hours of Friday morning.
This lunar eclipse will be close to a total eclipse, with more than 97 percent of the full moon cast into a red hue by Earth's shadow, so don't let the partial part fool you.
Only a small portion of the Moon on the bottom left corner will remain lit up at its peak.
This is going to be a special lunar eclipse because it is not the first one this year.
The entire event will last for six hours, and the Moon will be in theumbra for three hours, 28 minutes, and 24 seconds, making it the longest partial lunar eclipse since 1441.
The movie is called "NEAR TOTAL ECLIPSE." On the morning of November 19th, the longest partial lunar ellipse occurs. The eclipse begins at 1:02AM. There is a max eclipse at 4:02 AM when the moon is in the lowest part of Earth's shadow.
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The Holcomb Observatory is on November 13, 2021.
When the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, it casts its shadow over the lunar satellite.
The Moon doesn't go completely dark like the Sun does during a solar eclipse. The Moon has an eerie red glow due to sunlight bending through Earth's atmosphere.
The phenomenon is called a 'blood moon' because of its red color.
North America, as well as Hawaii and parts of Russia and South America, will be able to see the eclipse.
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio is used for scientific visualization.
Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia will be able to see it on the evening of Friday, 19 November.
The Moon will pass through the darker part of the Earth's shadow at 11:18 pm on Thursday and leave at 2:47 am on Friday, giving those on the west coast of the US prime viewing conditions.
The moon will be high in the sky during this time.
Those close to the east coast need to get up early and look towards the western horizon. The best viewing will start at 2:18 am and end at 5:47 am on Friday.
Here's how the lunar eclipse will look at key moments.
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November 3, 2021.
You can see a full chart of viewing times for your location here.
The Native American name for the full moon in November is a 'beaver moon', which means that it was the best time to trap beavers as they prepare for winter. It's also sometimes referred to as the snow moon, according to NASA.
This partial lunar eclipse is lengthy. The Moon is about to arrive at its farthest point from Earth, and it's happening at the same time.
It's moving at its slowest speed through its circle and takes its time passing through the planet's shadow.
The May lunar eclipse was an hour shorter, lasting five hours and 2 minutes in total, and with the darkest part of Earth's shadow passing over the Moon for just two hours and 53 minutes.
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio is used for scientific visualization.
The November lunar eclipse can be watched.
You either need to stay up later or wake up early depending on where you are.
The closer you are to the US west coast, the better the view you will have with the Moon above you.
Those on the east coast need to look towards the western horizon around dawn. On the other side of the planet in Australia, New Zealand, and the eastern parts of Asia, you will be able to see the eclipse as the Moon is beginning to rise.
If you want a closer view, you can use binoculars or telescopes.
You can watch the event online from the observatory in Los Angeles, if you can't see it in person.
Unlike solar eclipses, you won't need special gear to view the eclipse, as you're not going to harm your eye.
A total solar eclipse will happen on December 4th, and lunar eclipses occur within a few weeks of a solar eclipse. Only those in the southern Ocean will get to see the full thing.
This week's lunar eclipse is going to be a great opportunity to get outside, wrap up in a blanket, and take a moment to marvel at the long-reaching shadow cast by our home planet.
