Telegraph Reporters
17 September 2024 7:31pm
Stargazers will be treated to a rare phenomenon on Tuesday night as the earth’s shadow passes over a supermoon creating a partial eclipse.
The moon will appear full for about three days, from Monday evening through Thursday morning.
This will be a partial lunar eclipse.
When is the supermoon/lunar eclipse?
The moon will start entering the earth’s partial shadow at 8.41pm EDT, according to Nasa.
The slight dimming of the moon will be difficult to notice until the top edge of the moon starts entering the full shadow at 10:13pm, according to Nasa.
People should set their alarms for 10.44pm, as this will be peak of the eclipse with only the top 8 percent of the moon in full shadow.
The moon will finish exiting the full shadow at 11.16pm and the partial shadow on Wednesday morning at 12.47am.
These times change for the UK.
It will rise around 7.15pm, at around 1.40am, the small shadow will appear on the top right corner of the moon, and then the partial eclipse will reach its maximum at 3.44am.
Top tips for catching the supermoon
The first piece of advice is to pinpoint a viewing spot that is dark and looks towards the east – the moon will rise from that direction.
Ideally, you’ll find a flat place to watch from, because hills and trees might obscure your view.
You should also avoid crowded areas, well-lit areas and anywhere with tall buildings.
What happens if I miss the supermoon ?
If you miss this supermoon, don’t fret.
Another two are set to occur, on Oct 17 and Nov 15 this year.
What is a supermoon?
According to Nasa, a supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to earth at the same time the moon is full.
The Moon orbits earth in an ellipse, an oval that brings it closer to and further from earth as it goes around.
The furthest point in this ellipse is known as the apogee, and is around 253,000 miles (405,500 kilometers) from earth on average.
Its closest point is the perigee, which is an average distance of about 226,000 miles (363,300 kilometers) from earth.
When a full moon appears at perigee, it is slightly brighter and larger than a regular full moon – and that’s where we get a supermoon.
What is a harvest full moon?
Some people are calling this a harvest full moon, or a harvest supermoon.
This is because it is the closest full moon to the beginning of the fall season.
Historically, this was an important period for farmers before electricity as it allowed them to use the sun’s reflection off the moon to grow crops even in the dark.
The moon’s light was particularly important during fall, when harvests are the largest.
Hence, harvest moon.
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