lunar eclipse yacht

'Lunar Eclipse' Hallberg Rassy 42

A little history behind the names.

Although the name might suggest Harry Hallberg and Christopher Rassy never worked together. They even were competitors at some point.

Harry started in the late 1940s building wooden Folkboats, quite famous yacht class. He also was one of the pioneers who in the early 1960s began building boats from GRP.

Christopher started by working for other boatbuilders. He was also a keen racer and won a lot of peises. In the early 1960s, he decided to begin on his own. Coincidently he bought his first yard from Hallberg when it became too small for him and he moved to a larger yard.

Two names merged in 1972 when Henry Hallberg retired. Then Rassy again bought his large shipyard. For his new yard, Christopher decided to make both names of the most successful Swedish boatbuilders as one – Harllberg Rassy. 

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News | May 2, 2022

What you need to know about the lunar eclipse.

By Molly Wasser and Ernie Wright

Lee esta historia en español aquí

What is a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so that the Moon passes into Earth’s shadow. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon falls within the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra. When the Moon is within the umbra, it will turn a reddish hue. Lunar eclipses are sometimes called “Blood Moons” because of this phenomenon.

How can I observe the eclipse?

You don’t need any special equipment to observe a lunar eclipse, although binoculars or a telescope will enhance the view and the red color. A dark environment away from bright lights makes for the best viewing conditions.

The eastern half of the United States and all of South America will have the opportunity to see every stage of the lunar eclipse. Totality will be visible in much of Africa, western Europe, Central and South America, and most of North America.

What if it’s cloudy or I’m not in the viewing region?

Watch the Livestream here

Watch on Facebook | YouTube | NASA Television | NASA.gov/live

What can I expect to observe?

What else can i see tonight.

The Moon will be in the constellation Libra. Here are some more skywatching tips for the month of May.

Why does the Moon turn red during a lunar eclipse?

The same phenomenon that makes our sky blue and our sunsets red causes the Moon to turn red during a lunar eclipse. It’s called Rayleigh scattering . Light travels in waves, and different colors of light have different physical properties. Blue light has a shorter wavelength and is scattered more easily by particles in Earth’s atmosphere than red light, which has a longer wavelength.

Red light, on the other hand, travels more directly through the atmosphere. When the Sun is overhead, we see blue light throughout the sky. But when the Sun is setting, sunlight must pass through more atmosphere and travel farther before reaching our eyes. The blue light from the Sun scatters away, and longer-wavelength red, orange, and yellow light pass through.

During a lunar eclipse, the Moon turns red because the only sunlight reaching the Moon passes through Earth’s atmosphere. The more dust or clouds in Earth’s atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the Moon will appear. It’s as if all the world’s sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon.

Will any NASA spacecraft observe the eclipse?

NASA’s mission team for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), NASA’s spacecraft in orbit around the Moon, will turn the instruments off during the eclipse. The spacecraft is solar-powered, so LRO will power down to preserve its battery while the Moon is in shadow.

The Lucy spacecraft, currently on its journey to study Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids, will turn its gaze toward its home planet to observe a portion of the five-hour long eclipse – from just before the penumbral eclipse to just before the end of totality. The mission team plans to capture a view of both the Earth and the Moon with the high-resolution imager, L’LORRI. Since the spacecraft will be 64 million miles away and uses the Deep Space Network, it will likely take a few weeks to download and process the images. Follow @NASASolarSystem for updates on the Lucy mission.

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A Total Lunar Eclipse in Prime-Time

By Adam Mann

Finally a good reason to stay up on Sunday night: A total lunar eclipse.

Lunar watchers throughout the United States can experience some heavenly wonder as Earth’s shadow covers the moon during prime viewing hours the night of May 15. Those on the East Coast can watch our natural satellite start to turn an eerie copper-red color at around 11:30 p.m. Eastern time during one of the longest lunar eclipses in recent memory.

“For pretty much all of North America, this is a tremendous viewing opportunity,” said Madhulika Guhathakurta, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Scenes From Sunday’s Lunar Eclipse

Blood moon. Flower moon. Total eclipse. Whatever you called it, Earth’s shadow draped over the moon Sunday, a reminder our world is one of many in harmony with other heavenly bodies. Look back at lunar eclipse photos from around the world →

The eclipse was a good excuse for a gathering in Caracas, Venezuela.

A bite out of the moon seen in Skopje, North Macedonia.

One astronomer estimated 2.7 billion people had a chance to see Sunday’s eclipse , including viewers in Dresden, Germany.

In La Paz, Bolivia. No special viewing equipment is needed to take in a lunar eclipse. Just look up.

The coppery, reddish hue caused by an eclipse leads to the name blood moon , seen here in Temple City, Calif.

There’s a lot more sky to see out there , especially in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

Get alerted to the next eclipse on your personal digital calendar by signing up to The Times Space and Astronomy Calendar.

Where and when can I watch the lunar eclipse?

The eclipse will be visible for a large portion of the world, including those in the Americas, much of Europe and Africa, and parts of the Pacific. Joseph Rao, an associate astronomer at the Hayden Planetarium in New York, estimates that some 2.7 billion people should be able to catch at least part of the eclipse.

Not long after sunset, the left-hand side of the moon should start appearing dusky. But the main event kicks off about 10:28 p.m. Eastern time, when the moon enters Earth’s central shadow, known as the umbra. At that time, it will begin to look like something has taken a bite out of the moon.

When the moon is about three-quarters of the way into the umbra, it should start lighting up with a reddish hue, “like your electric range just when the coils begin to glow,” Mr. Rao said.

At 11:29 p.m., the moon will be in the deepest portion of the Earth’s shadow and the total eclipse will begin in earnest. The eclipse will peak shortly after midnight, at roughly 12:12 a.m., and remain that copper color until after 1 a.m. The moon will leave the umbra at 1:56 a.m., regaining its pearlescent hue as the work week begins.

Viewers farther west won’t have to strain to stay up quite as late, with the most stunning views of the red moon beginning about 8:29 p.m. Pacific time, the peak occurring just before 9:12 p.m., and the total eclipse ending by 9:54 p.m. Observers in Hawaii will be able to see the moon rise looking like a reddish ball, Mr. Rao said, while those in Europe and Africa will view the opposite effect, watching the moon drop below the horizon during the total eclipse.

The quirks of celestial mechanics mean that totality — when the moon is blood red and in the deepest shadow — lasts longer than average, roughly 1 hour and 25 minutes, giving skywatchers ample opportunity to savor the event. This makes it the longest total lunar eclipse visible for much of the United States since August 1989, Mr. Rao said.

For people in New York, weather forecasters put the chance of rain at 30 percent for Sunday night and suggested that conditions could be mostly cloudy ahead of the eclipse’s totality.

If you’re clouded out by poor weather, or not in the path of the eclipse, NASA will be livestreaming the event on its website. You can also watch it in the video player embedded above. The Slooh online telescope will be hosting another livestream as well.

What do I need to watch the eclipse?

No fancy equipment is needed to view the otherworldly spectacle. If the weather is clear, just look up and locate the moon at night. Darker skies are better for catching the subtleties of the moon’s color change, but even those in cities will have fine views of the eclipse.

“Because it is happening at such a comfortable time, I would suggest trying to observe it from the beginning to the end,” Dr. Guhathakurta said.

Binoculars or a backyard telescope will help bring out the red color, she added. Viewers with access to such instruments should be able to watch Earth’s shadow pass over craters, valleys and mountains on the moon, and see such features take on that scarlet hue.

NASA’s Goddard center hosts maps and visualizations of both the moon during the eclipse and where on Earth the eclipse will be observable, so Dr. Guhathakurta suggested that those interested can acquaint themselves with details of the event beforehand and learn more about lunar topography.

How does a lunar eclipse work again?

Lunar eclipses occur when our planet comes between its two major heavenly companions, the sun and moon. Moonglow is actually reflected sunlight and so the lunar surface gradually darkens as the moon falls into Earth’s long shadow.

“When the moon goes into the shadow of the Earth, it should blackout and disappear,” Mr. Rao said. “Instead, it changes this eerie copper or reddish color.”

That’s because the Earth’s atmosphere is lensing sunlight around the edges of our planet. Everything other than the longest and reddest wavelengths is filtered out and the combined glow of all the world’s sunrises and sunsets gets projected on the otherwise gray moon.

If you were standing on the moon, you’d see the big black backlit plate of the Earth coming in front of the sun, Mr. Rao said. During totality, our planet would appear as a giant dark circle rimmed by a brilliant red ring, and the lunar surface around you would turn various shades of red, orange and brown.

NASA’s Surveyor III probe captured such a marvel on film during the April 24, 1967, lunar eclipse, but the resulting images are in black and white and extremely low resolution. But with many new missions headed to lunar orbit and the moon’s surface in the coming years, perhaps one of Earth’s robotic explorers will capture such a scene in color and high resolution.

When is the next lunar eclipse?

A second total lunar eclipse will occur later this year in the early morning of Nov. 8. Sign up for the Times Space and Astronomy Calendar to get a reminder on your personal digital calendar of this and other events.

It will be visible in Asia, Australia and the Pacific Ocean, as well as parts of Europe, North America and much of South America. That eclipse will be for early risers on the East Coast, who will have to get up at 4:09 a.m. to catch its beginning.

What’s Up in Space and Astronomy

Keep track of things going on in our solar system and all around the universe..

Never miss an eclipse, a meteor shower, a rocket launch or any other 2024 event  that’s out of this world with  our space and astronomy calendar .

A dramatic blast from the sun  set off the highest-level geomagnetic storm in Earth’s atmosphere, making the northern lights visible around the world .

With the help of Google Cloud, scientists who hunt killer asteroids churned through hundreds of thousands of images of the night sky to reveal 27,500 overlooked space rocks in the solar system .

A celestial image, an Impressionistic swirl of color in the center of the Milky Way, represents a first step toward understanding the role of magnetic fields  in the cycle of stellar death and rebirth.

Scientists may have discovered a major flaw in their understanding of dark energy, a mysterious cosmic force . That could be good news for the fate of the universe.

Is Pluto a planet? And what is a planet, anyway? Test your knowledge here .

What is a lunar eclipse—and when will the next one happen?

The phenomenon has delighted and terrified humanity through the ages. Learn about the three different types, what causes them, and how ancient cultures interpreted them.

Lunar eclipses happen about twice a year when the sun, Earth, and moon align so the moon falls into our planet’s shadow. There are three kinds of lunar eclipses: total eclipses or “blood moons,” partial, and penumbral.

This year, we’ll see two lunar eclipses—a penumbral lunar eclipse on March 25 and a partial lunar eclipse September 17. The first will be subtle, with the moon passing only into Earth’s outer, fainter shadow, called the penumbra.

Though penumbral eclipses are often not visible to the naked eye, this spring eclipse should be. This is because Earth’s shadow will cover 95 percent of the moon’s surface; only 60 percent is required to see the eclipse with the naked eye.  

In September, the effect will be more dramatic as a portion of the moon will pass into the darker part of our planet’s shadow, called the umbra. It might look like a circle was carved out the side of the moon.

This cosmic phenomenon has delighted or terrified humanity throughout recorded history, and astronomers have learned how to track celestial motions to predict when a lunar eclipse will occur years to centuries in advance.

What are penumbral and partial lunar eclipses?

While we typically see one full moon a month, not every month delivers a lunar eclipse. That's because the moon's orbit around Earth is slightly tilted, and it only passes through the planet's cone-shaped shadow at specific times.

That tilt is why each eclipse can be seen at different times and from different places on Earth. However, astronomers have noticed that lunar eclipses follow a long-term pattern called the Saros cycle—and any two eclipses separated by one Saros cycle share similar attributes through time.  

What's more, not every lunar eclipse completely covers the moon's disk. During a partial lunar eclipse , only part of the moon passes through the umbra and the rest of the moon stays illuminated by the sun.  

During a penumbral eclipse, all or part of the moon passes through the brighter part of Earth's shadow, and we see very little effect from Earth.

What is a total lunar eclipse or blood moon?

Every so often, the silvery orb of the full moon undergoes a dramatic transformation. Darkness slips across the lunar face, and for a while, the entire moon may be colored a deep blood red.

This is what's known as a total lunar eclipse, when the moon, the sun , and Earth line up in just the right way for the moon to be engulfed in Earth's shadow.

Its peak, called totality, can last for up to an hour and 47 minutes , while the full eclipse can last about six hours from start to finish as the moon slips behind Earth and then emerges on the other side.

During totality, the lunar orb changes color and becomes yellow, ruddy orange, or even a deep crimson, which is why a total lunar eclipse is sometimes called a blood moon . This ominous-looking effect appears because the moon does not generate its own light, and what we normally see as moonlight is really reflected light from the sun.

While most of that sunlight is blocked during a total lunar eclipse, some of it gets bent and scattered as it filters through Earth's atmosphere, so that only longer, redder wavelengths make it through. The exact color we see on the moon depends on how much dust is in Earth's atmosphere, since dust can absorb more of the filtered light and thus deepen the eclipsed moon's hue.

Lunar eclipse myths

For many people today, lunar eclipses are cause for celebration, and many people host eclipse- viewing parties and even travel great distances to see one in person. Others, both in the past and present, believe lunar eclipses are bad omens.

The Inca, for instance, told stories of a jaguar attacking the moon and turning it bloody, while the Mesopotamians believed the moon was being assaulted by demons. And the Batammaliba people in Togo and Benin interpret a lunar eclipse as the sun and moon working through a feud.

Thanks to our understanding of the ongoing dance of orbital dynamics, astronomers are able to calculate when eclipses must have happened in the past. By checking those dates against written accounts, scientists can determine when a total lunar eclipse must have happened during a moment of historical significance .

Enjoy total lunar eclipses while they last: Measurements of the distance between Earth and the moon show that our lunar companion is spiraling away from us at about 3.8 centimeters a year. In a billion years or so, the moon will be too far away to be fully enveloped by Earth's shadow, and blood moons will become the stuff of legend.

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• SOLAR SYSTEM

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Lunar eclipses

What is a lunar eclipse.

A lunar eclipse happens when the Moon and Earth line up so that the Earth’s shadow falls over the Moon and darkens it. Conversely, a solar eclipse happens when the Moon and Sun line up so that the Moon’s shadow falls on the Earth.

What is a total lunar eclipse?

During a total lunar eclipse the Moon is completely covered by the darkest portion of Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra. This is different from a partial lunar eclipse, during which the Moon does not entirely cross through the umbra.

What is a blood moon?

During a total lunar eclipse, the darkest portion of Earth’s shadow completely covers the Moon. You might assume that the Moon would be dark during this time but that’s not the case. Some sunlight still reaches the Moon’s surface after bouncing through the edges of Earth’s atmosphere.

Our atmosphere scatters blue light, which is why the sky looks blue during the day. At sunrise and sunset when the Sun is low on the horizon, the sunlight reaching you has passed through even more atmosphere. This scatters away most of the blue light, creating red-tinged skies and beautiful sunsets.

The same thing happens during a lunar eclipse. Although the Moon is in shadow, the edges of Earth’s atmosphere still scatter some red light onto the Moon’s surface. The actual term blood Moon dates back to at least biblical times and has been tied to the apocalypse . But there’s no need to panic — a red-tinged Moon is simply the result of an infinite cosmic ballet.

What is a supermoon?

A supermoon happens when the full Moon falls near the point where the Moon is closest in its orbit to Earth. This happens roughly once a year, and when it does a supermoon usually recurs for a couple full Moons in a row.

The Moon’s 27-day orbit around the Earth is not perfectly circular. Its distance to Earth varies between 363,300 and 405,500 kilometers (226,000 and 253,000 miles). When the Moon is at its closest point to Earth, it appears up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter to observers on Earth.

Why does the Moon look bigger sometimes?

Sometimes when you see a full or nearly full Moon low on the horizon, it looks extra large, regardless of whether or not it is near the closest point in its orbit to Earth. This is a trick of the brain called the Moon illusion — in reality the Moon’s size doesn’t change as it travels across the sky.

Scientists aren’t sure exactly what causes the Moon illusion, but one common explanation is that you’re used to seeing the Moon high in the sky all by itself. When you happen to see it low on the horizon next to familiar foreground shapes like trees and buildings, your brain perceives it as being larger than normal.

Why don’t we have a lunar or solar eclipse every month?

The Moon’s orbit around the Earth is tilted by about 5 degrees. The orbit wobbles like a hula hoop spinning around a person’s waist, ensuring that the Moon doesn’t line up perfectly with the Earth and Sun on every 27-day orbit.

On average , we get two lunar eclipses and between two and five solar eclipses each year.

This content is hosted by a third party (vimeo.com), which uses marketing cookies. Please accept marketing cookies to watch this video.

The Moon's orbital tilt Because the Moon's orbit around the Earth is tilted by about 5 degrees, the Moon does not fall within Earth's shadow every month to create a lunar eclipse. This NASA visualization shows the Moon missing Earth's shadow for several months before finally passing through it, creating a lunar eclipse. Credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio Video: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

Learn more See what's up in the night sky How studying the Moon teaches about Earth's origins When is the next solar eclipse?

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Lunar Phases and Eclipses

We always see the same side of the Moon, because as Earth's natural satellite revolves around our planet, the Moon rotates, causing the same side to always face us. And yet, the Moon looks a little different every night. Sometimes the entire face glows brightly. Sometimes we only see a thin crescent. Other times the Moon seems to disappear entirely. Why does the Moon's appearance change?

The moonlight we see on Earth is sunlight reflected off the Moon's grayish-white surface. The amount of Moon we see illuminated changes over the month — lunar phases — because the Moon orbits Earth and Earth orbits the Sun. Everything is moving.

What Are Lunar Phases?

Our Moon doesn't shine, it reflects sunlight. Just as it does in the daytime on Earth, sunlight illuminates the Moon's surface too. That is, the Moon has a day side and also a night side. And as the Moon orbits Earth each month, we do not have a continuous view of the entire side of the Moon that's facing the Sun. Most of the time, our view of the Moon looks toward part of the sunlit side and part of the dark side at the same time.

When sunlight is illuminating only the Moon's far side – the side we can't directly see from Earth – that phase is called a new moon . When sunlight illuminates only the Moon's near side – the side that always faces Earth – we call that a full moon .

The rest of the month, we see a different amount of the daytime side of the Moon each day. These continually changing views of the sunlit part of the Moon are the Moon's phases. The eight lunar phases are, in order: new moon , waxing crescent , first quarter , waxing gibbous , full moon , waning gibbous , third quarter and waning crescent . The cycle repeats once a month (every 29.5 days).

Daily Moon Guide

Check out NASA's interactive map for observing the Moon each day of the year.

What is a Lunar Eclipse?

During a lunar eclipse, Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the sunlight falling on the Moon.

There are two kinds of lunar eclipses:

• A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon and Sun are on opposite sides of Earth.
• A partial lunar eclipse happens when only part of Earth's shadow covers the Moon.

During some stages of a lunar eclipse, the Moon can appear reddish. This is because the only remaining sunlight reaching the Moon at that point is from around the edges of the Earth, as seen from the Moon's surface. From there, an observer during an eclipse would see all Earth's sunrises and sunsets at once.

• Understanding Lunar Eclipses

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow, just as a solar eclipse occurs when part of the Earth passes through the Moon's shadow.

So why don't eclipses happen twice a month? The reason is that the Moon's orbit around the Earth is tilted relative to the Earth's orbit around the Sun. But if that's the case, why do eclipses happen at all? Throughout the year, the Moon's orbital tilt remains fixed with respect to the stars, meaning that it changes with respect to the Sun. About twice a year, this puts the Moon in just the right position to pass through the Earth's shadow, causing a lunar eclipse.

As the Moon passes into the central part of the Earth's shadow, called the umbra, it darkens dramatically. Once it's entirely within the umbra, the Moon appears a dim red due to sunlight scattered through the Earth's atmosphere.

In fact, if you watched the eclipse from the surface of the Moon, you'd see the Sun set behind the entire Earth, bathing you in a warm red glow. Back home, you'll have to stay up late to watch a lunar eclipse, but if you do you'll see the Moon in rare form, and you'll catch a brief glimpse of our own planet's long shadow.

> More about the Moon's phases and eclipses

Photograph the Moon

Capturing the Moon with a camera is one of the most satisfying—and challenging—projects available to an outdoor photographer. Here are 10 suggestions for making the most of a moonlit night with your camera .

How do Lunar Eclipses Affect Spacecraft?

Lunar eclipses can be a science boon and engineering challenge for orbiting spacecraft, such as NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter . The solar-powered orbiter also falls in Earth's shadow, cutting it off from the source of its power. Mission controllers shut down most instruments to conserve energy.

The team leaves on one instrument—called Diviner—that can watch how the lunar surface responds to the rapid change in temperature caused by a lunar eclipse. The data helps scientists better understand the composition and properties of the surface.

Eclipse Videos

• What's the difference between a solar and lunar eclipse ?
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• Lunar Eclipses and the Moon's orbit

Eclipse Activities

• How to watch an eclipse and get students observing the Moon
• Evaluating a Lunar Eclipse (Grades 3-12) - Students use the Danjon Scale of Lunar Eclipse Brightness to illustrate the range of colors and brightness the Moon can take on during a total lunar eclipse.
• Observing the Moon (Grades K-6) - Students identify the Moon’s location in the sky and record their observations in a journal over the course of the Moon-phase cycle.
• Moon Phases (Grades 1-6) - Students learn about the phases of the Moon by acting them out. In 30 minutes, they will act out one complete, 30-day, Moon cycle.
• Measuring the Supermoon (Grades 5-12) - Students take measurements of the Moon during its full phase over multiple Moon cycles to compare and contrast results.
• Modeling the Earth-Moon System (Grades 6-8) – Students learn about scale models and distance by creating a classroom-size Earth-Moon system.
• Make a Moon Phases Calendar and Calculator – Like a decoder wheel for the Moon, this calendar will show you where and when to see the Moon and every Moon phase throughout the year!

Explore More

• NASA Lunar Eclipses Past and Future
• Five Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses
• More on NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

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Lunar eclipses 2024: When, where & how to see them

2024 features two lunar eclipses.

Penumbral lunar eclipse: March 25

Partial lunar eclipse: sept. 17-18, how to see a lunar eclipse, upcoming lunar eclipses, lunar eclipse faqs answered by an expert, additional resources.

The next lunar eclipse of 2024 will be a penumbral lunar eclipse on March 24-25 .

The eclipse will be visible to much of Europe, North and East Asia, North America, South America, the Arctic and Antarctica according to  TimeandDate.com

Lunar eclipses occur when Earth positions itself between the sun and the moon and casts a shadow across the surface of the moon. They can only occur during a full moon and make for an interesting skywatching target. 

Related: Solar eclipse guide: When, where & how to see them  

There are three types of lunar eclipses depending on how the sun , Earth and moon are aligned at the time of the event.

• Total lunar eclipse: Earth's shadow is cast across the entire lunar surface. 
• Partial lunar eclipse: During a partial lunar eclipse, only part of the moon enters Earth's shadow, which may look like it is taking a "bite" out of the lunar surface. Earth's shadow will appear dark on the side of the moon facing Earth. How much of a "bite" we see depends on how the sun, Earth and moon align, according to NASA .
• Penumbral lunar eclipse: The faint outer part of Earth's shadow is cast across the lunar surface. This type of eclipse is not as dramatic as the other two and can be difficult to see.     

The  penumbral lunar eclipse on March 25  will be a very slight lunar eclipse in which the moon passes through the outermost edge of the Earth's shadow. It will be visible from much of Europe, North and East Asia, North America, South America, the Arctic and Antarctica according to  TimeandDate.com . 

The penumbral eclipse will begin at 12:53 a.m. EDT (0453 GMT), the maximum stage of the eclipse will occur a couple of hours later at 3:12 a.m. EDT (0712 GMT) and the penumbral eclipse will end at 5:32 a.m. EDT (0932 GMT). The overall duration of the eclipse will be 4 hours and 39 minutes.

 — How to photograph the moon using a camera: techniques, kit, and settings

— Full moon names for 2022

— What is a blood moon?

The  partial lunar eclipse on Sept. 17-18  will be visible over Europe, Much of Asia, Africa, North America, South America, the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic and Antarctica, according to  TimeandDate.com .

 It will begin at 8:41 p.m. EDT (0141 GMT on Sept. 18), the maximum point of the eclipse will occur at 10:44 p.m. EDT (0341 GMT on Sept. 18) and the partial lunar eclipse will end at 12:47 a.m. EDT on Sept. 18 (0547 GMT). The total duration of the partial lunar eclipse is 4 hours and 6 minutes.

Lunar eclipses are among the easiest skywatching events to observe.

Looking for a telescope for the lunar eclipse? We recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102 as the top pick in our best beginner's telescope guide . 

To watch one, you simply go out, look up and enjoy. You don't need a telescope or any other special equipment. However, binoculars or a small telescope will bring out details on the lunar surface — moonwatching is as interesting during an eclipse as it is at any other time. If the eclipse occurs during winter, bundle up if you plan to be out for the duration — an eclipse can take a couple of hours to unfold. Bring warm drinks and blankets or chairs for comfort.

If you hope to snap a photo of a lunar eclipse, here's our guide on How to photograph a lunar eclipse with a camera. And if you need imaging equipment, our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography have recommendations to make sure you're ready for the next eclipse.

Fancy taking a more in-depth moonlit tour of our rocky companion? Our ultimate guide to observing the moon will help you plan your next skywatching venture whether it be exploring the lunar seas, mountainous terrain, or the many craters that blanket the landscape. You can also see where astronauts, rovers and landers have ventured with our Apollo landing sites observing guide .  

We will not experience another total lunar eclipse until March 14, 2025. There will however be partial and penumbral lunar eclipses to keep us occupied in the meantime.  

Upcoming lunar eclipses according to NASA :

We asked meteorologist Joe Rao, a few commonly asked questions about lunar eclipses.

Joe Rao is Space.com's skywatching columnist, as well as a veteran meteorologist and eclipse chaser who also serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium.

How often does a lunar eclipse happen?

This depends on what type of lunar eclipse you are referring to.  There are two shadows cast into space by the Earth.  A faint outer shadow called the penumbra and a much darker central shadow called the umbra.  Penumbral lunar eclipses happen at least twice each year.  However, in many cases, the penumbra is so faint that, more often than not, most people completely miss out on noticing it when it happens. Umbral eclipses occur about every 2 or 3 years — sometimes twice in a single year.  Since the umbra is dark and well-defined people notice it when the moon moves either partially or completely within it. 

How long do lunar eclipses last?

It depends on how deeply the moon penetrates into the Earth's umbra and how far away the moon is from the Earth.  When the moon is near its closest point to Earth (perigee) it is moving much faster in its orbit as compared to when it's near its farthest point from Earth (apogee). Generally speaking, in the case of a total eclipse, it can last about three hours: one hour for the moon to move completely into the umbra, one hour for the moon to be completely immersed in the umbra and one hour for the moon to move out of the umbra. Totality can vary from just a few minutes to as long as 107 minutes. In the latter case, the moon moves directly through the center of the Earth's shadow while moving at its slowest in its orbit (apogee). 

What's the difference between a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon crosses in front of the sun (at new moon).  A lunar eclipse is something quite different.  It occurs when the full moon passes into the Earth's shadow.

Editor's note: If you capture an amazing photo of a lunar eclipse and would like to share it with Space.com for a story or gallery, send images and comments to managing editor Tariq Malik at [email protected] .

Want more information on the lunar eclipses of 2024? Timeanddate's lunar eclipse of March 25 guide and the Sept. 17-18 guide have further details on eclipse durations and viewing opportunities.  

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

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Daisy Dobrijevic joined Space.com in February 2022 having previously worked for our sister publication All About Space magazine as a staff writer. Before joining us, Daisy completed an editorial internship with the BBC Sky at Night Magazine and worked at the National Space Centre in Leicester, U.K., where she enjoyed communicating space science to the public. In 2021, Daisy completed a PhD in plant physiology and also holds a Master's in Environmental Science, she is currently based in Nottingham, U.K. Daisy is passionate about all things space, with a penchant for solar activity and space weather. She has a strong interest in astrotourism and loves nothing more than a good northern lights chase! 

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Lunar Eclipses and Solar Eclipses

What is an eclipse.

Below, check out a visualization of the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse!

What’s the difference between a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse?

Solar Eclipse

Space place trivia alert.

This total eclipse happens about every year and a half somewhere on Earth. A partial eclipse, when the Moon doesn’t completely cover the Sun, happens at least twice a year somewhere on Earth.

Note: This diagram is not to scale. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A total solar eclipse was visible over the continental United States on Aug. 21, 2017. This image was captured in Hopkinsville, Kentucky during the 2017 eclipse. Credit: NASA/MSFC/Joseph Matus

But not everyone experiences every solar eclipse. Getting a chance to see a total solar eclipse is rare. The Moon’s shadow on Earth isn’t very big, so only a small portion of places on Earth will see it. You have to be on the sunny side of the planet when it happens. You also have to be in the path of the Moon’s shadow.

On average, the same spot on Earth only gets to see a solar eclipse for a few minutes about every 375 years!

Eye Safety During a Total Solar Eclipse

Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely blocks the Sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing.

For safety information, visit the NASA Eclipse Safety Page .

Lunar Eclipse

During a lunar eclipse, Earth gets in the way of the Sun’s light hitting the Moon. That means that during the night, a full moon fades away as Earth’s shadow covers it up.

The Moon can also look reddish because Earth’s atmosphere absorbs the other colors while it bends some sunlight toward the Moon. Sunlight bending through the atmosphere and absorbing other colors is also why sunsets are orange and red.

During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon is shining from all the sunrises and sunsets occurring on Earth!

The Moon appeared a reddish color during a total lunar eclipse on Jan. 21, 2019 Credit: Public Domain

Why don’t we have a lunar eclipse every month?

You might be wondering why we don’t have a lunar eclipse every month as the Moon orbits Earth. It’s true that the Moon goes around Earth every month, but it doesn’t always get in Earth’s shadow. The Moon’s path around Earth is tilted compared to Earth’s orbit around the Sun. The Moon can be behind Earth but still get hit by light from the Sun.

In this diagram, you can see that the Moon’s orbit around Earth is at a tilt. This is why we don’t get a lunar eclipse every month. This diagram is not to scale: the Moon is much farther away from Earth than shown here. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Because they don’t happen every month, a lunar eclipse is a special event. Unlike solar eclipses, lots of people get to see each lunar eclipse. If you live on the nighttime half of Earth when the eclipse happens, you’ll be able to see it.

Remembering the Difference

It’s easy to get these two types of eclipses mixed up. An easy way to remember the difference is in the name. The name tells you what gets darker when the eclipse happens. In a solar eclipse , the Sun gets darker . In a lunar eclipse , the Moon gets darker .

Related Resources for Educators

Launchpad: Solar Eclipses

More About the Sun and Moon

The Moon's phases in Oreos

Play Helios!

How far away is the Moon?

If you liked this, you may like:

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

• Solar Eclipses
• Lunar Eclipses
• Planetary Transits
• Moon Phases

Eclipse Web Site

By fred espenak, gsfc planetary systems laboratory, lunar eclipses: 2021 - 2030, fred espenak.

A concise summary of all lunar eclipses from 2021 through 2030 is presented in the table below. The first column gives the Calendar Date of the instant of greatest eclipse[ 1 ]. The second column TD of Greatest Eclipse is the Terrestrial Dynamical Time of greatest eclipse. The third column lists the Eclipse Type which is either Total, Partial, or Penumbral.

Eclipses recur over the Saros cycle, a period of approximately 18 years 11 days. Each eclipse belongs to the Saros Series shown in the 4th column. The Umbral Magnitude [ 2 ] (column 5) gives the fraction of the Moon's diameter immersed in Earth's umbral shadow at the instant of greatest eclipse. The Eclipse Duration [ 3 ] gives the length of the partial eclipse. If the eclipse is total then two durations are listed. The first is the interval between the beginning and end of the partial phases. The second value (in bold ) is the duration the total phase. Finally, the Geographic Region of Eclipse Visibility [ 4 ] provides a brief description of the regions where each eclipse will be seen.

Two fields in the summary table provide links to graphics and additional information for each eclipse. A figure consisting of a diagram and map for each eclipse may be seen by clicking on the Calendar Date . The top diagram shows the Moon's trajectory with respect to Earth's penumbral and umbral shadows. The equidistant cylindrical projection map below illustrates the geographpic region of visibility for each phase of the eclipse. These figures are described in greater detail in the Key to Lunar Eclipse Maps . Each figure is stored as a PDF file of about 110 kilobytes.

All eclipses belonging to a particular Saros Series are listed in a table linked through the Saros number.

The Key to Lunar Eclipse Decade Table contains a more detailed description of each item in the table.

For more data on lunar eclipses during this period, see Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: 2001 to 2100 .

Geographic abbreviations (used above): n = north, s = south, e = east, w = west, c = central

[ 1 ] Greatest Eclipse is the instant when the distance between the axis of Earth's umbral shadow and the center of the Moon's disk reaches a minimum.

[ 2 ] Umbral magnitude is the fraction of the Moon's diameter obscured by Earth's umbral shadow at the instant of greatest eclipse. For total eclipses, the umbral magnitude is always greater than or equal to 1. For partial eclipses, the umbral magnitude is always greater than 0 and less than 1. For penumbral eclipses, the umbral magnitude is always negative (i.e., less than 0).

[ 3 ] Eclipse Duration is the duration of the partial phase of a partial eclipse. For total eclipses two values are given. The first is the period between the beginning and end of the partial phases, while the second value (in bold is the duration of the total phase.

[ 4 ] Geographic Region of Eclipse Visibility is the portion of Earth's surface where some portion of the eclipse can be seen.

Decade Tables of Lunar Eclipses

Every link in the following table displays a page containing 10 years of lunar eclipses. Each eclipse has links to diagrams, maps and saros tables.

Lunar Eclipse Catalogs

• Five Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: -1999 to +3000
• Local Visibility of Lunar Eclipses: 1951 to 2050
• Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series
• Lunar Eclipses of Historical Interest

Lunar Eclipse Resources

• Lunar Eclipses for Students and Beginners
• Visual Appearance of Lunar Eclipses
• Lunar Eclipses and the Enlargement of Earth's Shadow
• Danjon Scale of Lunar Eclipse Brightness
• Crater Timings During Lunar Eclipses
• Photographing Lunar Eclipses
• Solar and Lunar Eclipse Photography
• Lunar Eclipses and the Saros
• Javascript Lunar Eclipse Explorer - calculate all lunar eclipses visible from any city

Lunar Eclipse Publications Online

• RASC Observer's Handbook : [ 1996 ] [ 1996 ] [ 1997 ] [ 1998 ] [ 1999 ] [ 2000 ] [ 2001 ] [ 2002 ] [ 2003 ] [ 2004 ] [ 2005 ] [ 2006 ] [ 2007 ] [ 2008 ] [ 2009 ] [ 2010 ] [ 2011 ]
• NASA RP1216: Fifty Year Canon of Lunar Eclipses: 1986 - 2035
• NASA TP-2009-214172: Five Millennium Canon of Lunar Eclipses: -1999 to +3000 (2000 BCE to 3000 CE)
• NASA TP-2009-214173: Five Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: -1999 to +3000 (2000 BCE to 3000 CE)

Special thanks to National Space Club summer interns Christopher Barrow for his valuable assistance in preparing this web page (July 2004) and Sumit Dutta for meticulously updating the Eclipse Web Site to NASA/W3C standards (July 2005).

All eclipse calculations are by Fred Espenak, and he assumes full responsibility for their accuracy. Some of the information presented on this web site is based on data published in Five Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: -1999 to +3000 .

Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment:

"Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC"

For more information, see: NASA Copyright Information

Go to NASA Solar Eclipse Page

Go to nasa lunar eclise page, go to nasa planetary transit page, go to nasa eclipse resource page.

Heliospheric Physics Laboratory – Code 672 NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA

Eclipse Central

Eclipses by location, eclipses by year, upcoming solar and lunar eclipses.

Partial Lunar Eclipse 17–18 Sep 2024

Visible in Europe, Much of Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic, Antarctica.

Path Map 3D Path Globe Live Stream

Annular Solar Eclipse 2 Oct 2024

Visible in South in North America, Much of South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Antarctica.

Total Lunar Eclipse 13–14 Mar 2025

Visible in Europe, Much of Asia, Much of Australia, Much of Africa, North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, Antarctica.

Path Map 3D Path Globe

Partial Solar Eclipse 29 Mar 2025

Visible in Europe, North in Asia, North/West Africa, Much of North America, North in South America, Atlantic, Arctic.

Next Eclipse: Path Map

Where is the next eclipse visible? Try our map!

Next Eclipse: 3D Globe Map

Interactive 3D globe of eclipse path

All Eclipses Worldwide

Find solar eclipses and lunar eclipses worldwide from 1900 to 2199.

Eclipse Live Shows

Our list of upcoming LIVE streams of solar and lunar eclipses.

Great American Eclipse 2023

Annular solar eclipse visible in parts of the US, as well as several Central and South American countries.

Great American Eclipse 2024

Total solar eclipse visible in parts of the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Simple explanation: what causes eclipses?

Solar eclipses | Lunar eclipses

Solar Eclipses

• When Is the Next Solar Eclipse?
• Different Types of Eclipses
• What Are Solar Eclipses?
• How Often Do Solar Eclipses Occur?
• Total Solar Eclipse
• Partial Solar Eclipse
• Annular Solar Eclipse
• Hybrid Solar Eclipse

Protect Your Eyes!

• Make a Pinhole Projector
• Magnitude of Eclipses
• Solar Eclipses in History
• Solar Eclipse Myths and Superstitions

Lunar Eclipses

• When Is the Next Lunar Eclipse?
• Total Lunar Eclipse
• Partial Lunar Eclipse
• Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
• When Is the Moon Red?
• How to View a Lunar Eclipse
• What is a Blood Moon?

See all eclipse articles

Planetary Transits

• Transit of Mercury
• Transit of Venus
• Mercury Transits

Past LIVE Events

• Total Solar Eclipse: April 8, 2024
• Partial Lunar Eclipse: October 28-29, 2023
• Annular Solar Eclipse: October 14, 2023
• Total Solar Eclipse: April 20, 2023
• Total Lunar Eclipse: November 8, 2022
• Partial Solar Eclipse: October 25, 2022
• Total Lunar Eclipse: May 15-16, 2022
• Partial Solar Eclipse: April 30, 2022
• Total Solar Eclipse: December 4, 2021
• Partial Lunar Eclipse: Nov 18-19, 2021
• Annular Solar Eclipse: June 10, 2021
• Total Lunar Eclipse: May 26, 2021
• Total Solar Eclipse: December 14, 2020
• Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: Nov 29-30, 2020
• Annular Solar Eclipse: June 21, 2020
• Mercury Transit: November 11, 2019
• Partial Lunar Eclipse: July 16–17, 2019
• Total Solar Eclipse: July 2, 2019
• Total Lunar Eclipse: January 20-21, 2019
• Total Lunar Eclipse: July 27-28, 2018
• Total Lunar Eclipse: January 31, 2018
• Total Solar Eclipse: August 21, 2017
• Partial Lunar Eclipse: August 7, 2017
• Annular Solar Eclipse: February 26, 2017
• Mercury Transit: May 9, 2016

Never look directly at the Sun without proper protection. Read more

Making a Pinhole Projector

Want a fun project for the next solar eclipse? Try making a Pinhole Projector... Read more

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LUNAR ECLIPSE Vessel Information

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What is the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse?

It almost time! Millions of Americans across the country Monday are preparing to witness the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse as it passes over portions of Mexico, the United States and Canada.

It's a sight to behold and people have now long been eagerly awaiting what will be their only chance until 2044 to witness totality, whereby the moon will completely block the sun's disc, ushering in uncharacteristic darkness.

That being said, many are curious on what makes the solar eclipse special and how is it different from a lunar eclipse.

The total solar eclipse is today: Get the latest forecast and everything you need to know

What is an eclipse?

An eclipse occurs when any celestial object like a moon or a planet passes between two other bodies, obscuring the view of objects like the sun, according to NASA .

What is a solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking its light from reaching our planet, leading to a period of darkness lasting several minutes. The resulting "totality," whereby observers can see the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, known as the corona, presents a spectacular sight for viewers and confuses animals – causing nocturnal creatures to stir and bird and insects to fall silent.

Partial eclipses, when some part of the sun remains visible, are the most common, making total eclipses a rare sight.

What is a lunar eclipse?

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and the sun are on exact opposite sides of Earth. When this happens, Earth blocks the sunlight that normally reaches the moon. Instead of that sunlight hitting the moon’s surface, Earth's shadow falls on it.

Lunar eclipses are often also referred to the "blood moon" because when the Earth's shadow covers the moon, it often produces a red color. The coloration happens because a bit of reddish sunlight still reaches the moon's surface, even though it's in Earth's shadow.

Difference between lunar eclipse and solar eclipse

The major difference between the two eclipses is in the positioning of the sun, the moon and the Earth and the longevity of the phenomenon, according to NASA.

A lunar eclipse can last for a few hours, while a solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes. Solar eclipses also rarely occur, while lunar eclipses are comparatively more frequent. While at least two partial lunar eclipses happen every year, total lunar eclipses are still rare, says NASA.

Another major difference between the two is that for lunar eclipses, no special glasses or gizmos are needed to view the spectacle and one can directly stare at the moon. However, for solar eclipses, it is pertinent to wear proper viewing glasses and take the necessary safety precautions because the powerful rays of the sun can burn and damage your retinas.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

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Lunar-Eclipse-DSC_3899

Here’s how to see the upcoming worm moon lunar eclipse

Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter.  Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more .

A glowing worm moon will light up the sky on Monday with a celestial performance in store for people venturing out in the early morning hours — a penumbral lunar eclipse.

March’s full moon, referred to as the worm moon by the  Farmers’ Almanac  due to its proximity to the spring equinox, will be at its fullest at 3 a.m. ET.

A few hours earlier, starting at 12:53 a.m. ET,  according to EarthSky , the moon will be almost perfectly aligned with the sun and Earth, causing the outer edge of Earth’s shadow, known as the penumbra, to be cast onto the glowing orb.

The greatest eclipse will be at  3:12 a.m . ET, when the moon will appear to be slightly darker than usual, said  Dr. Shannon Schmoll , director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University.

“It’ll be almost a gradient of darkening happening from one side of the moon to the other. It’s not going to be a super dramatic change in what we see in the moon,” Schmoll said. “But if you’re sitting there watching it, you might notice some slight variations in brightness.”

The worm moon — named by Native American tribes in reference to the beetle larvae and other creatures that emerge from hibernation in the spring — will be visible to everyone across the world, since the moon will appear to be full  for a couple of days .

However, the penumbral eclipse will only be visible to those who are on the  night side of Earth  when the event occurs, including Europe, North and East Asia, Australia, Africa, North America and South America. The lunar eclipse will finish at 5:33 a.m. ET, according to EarthSky.

The penumbral eclipse comes about two weeks before a total solar eclipse that will cross Mexico, the United States and Canada on April 8. Lunar and solar eclipses always come in pairs due to the period when the sun, Earth and moon stay aligned, Schmoll said. While the full moon will be caught in Earth’s shadow during this penumbral eclipse, the moon’s next new moon phase will allow for the conditions needed for a solar eclipse, when the moon will be in between the sun and Earth and thus block the face of the sun from view.

Eclipse season

An “eclipse season” is the approximate 35-day period that occurs every six months, near the equinoxes, when the near-perfect alignment of the three celestial bodies needed for eclipses occurs,  according to NASA.

A lunar eclipse does not happen monthly during each full moon because the moon’s orbital plane is tilted by about 5 degrees, so for most full moons, the shadow of the Earth will be just below or above the moon, Schmoll said.

While a penumbral eclipse is not as dramatic as a total lunar eclipse with the moon appearing an eerie red, there is no special equipment required to view a lunar eclipse such as the viewing glasses needed for a solar eclipse, Schmoll said, allowing for lunar eclipses to be viewed with the naked eye.

“You pretty much just need to be outside with a clear view of the moon when it’s happening,” Schmoll added. “(Eclipses are) always a good excuse to go outside and try to look at the sky and appreciate where we are in the universe, and what we are able to observe from our planet.”

Solar and lunar eclipses

While the most highly anticipated of the four eclipse events occurring in 2024 is the  total solar eclipse on April 8 , an annular solar eclipse will occur on October 2 over parts of South America. This type of eclipse is similar to a total solar eclipse, except the moon is at the farthest point in its orbit from Earth, so it can’t completely block the sun. Instead, annular solar eclipses create a “ring of fire” in the sky as the sun’s fiery light surrounds the moon’s shadow.

Meanwhile, a partial lunar eclipse, in which Earth moves between the sun and the full moon without being perfectly aligned, will appear over Europe and much of Asia, Africa, North America and South America between September 17 and 18.

Check  Time and Date’s website  to see when each of these eclipses will appear.

More full moons this year

Of the 12 full moons in 2024, the September and October lunar events will be considered supermoons, according to EarthSky.

Definitions of a supermoon can vary, but the term generally denotes a full moon that is closer to Earth than normal and thus appears larger and brighter in the night sky. Some astronomers say the phenomenon occurs when the moon is within 90% of perigee — its closest approach to Earth in orbit.

Here are the remaining full moons of 2024:

• April 23: Pink moon

• May 23: Flower moon

• June 21: Strawberry moon

• July 21: Buck moon

• August 19: Sturgeon moon

• September 17: Harvest moon

• October 17: Hunter’s moon

• November 15: Beaver moon

• December 15: Cold moon

Meteor showers of 2024

Skygazers can look forward to a multitude of meteor showers this year, according to the  American Meteor Society . Here are the dates when meteor events are expected to peak this year.

• Lyrids: April 21-22

• Eta Aquariids: May 4-5

• Southern delta Aquariids: July 29-30

• Alpha Capricornids: July 30-31

• Perseids: August 11-12

• Draconids: October 7-8

• Orionids: October 20-21

• Southern Taurids: November 4-5

• Northern Taurids: November 11-12

• Leonids: November 17-18

• Geminids: December 13-14

• Ursids: December 21-22

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