New York.- Get ready for a partial lunar eclipse and a supermoon, all in one package.
The spectacle will be visible in clear skies across North and South America on Tuesday night, and in Africa and Europe on Wednesday morning.
A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow that obscures part of the Moon, giving it the appearance of a bite mark.
Because the Moon will be coming a little closer to Earth than usual, it will appear a little larger in the sky. Tuesday’s supermoon is one of three remaining this year.
“A small portion of sunlight will be blocked, so the Moon will appear a little bit dimmer,” said Valerie Rapson, an astronomer at the State University of New York at Oneonta.
The Earth, Moon and Sun align to produce a solar or lunar eclipse four to seven times a year, according to NASA. This lunar eclipse is the second and last of the year, after a slight darkening in March.
In April, a total solar eclipse plunged some North American cities into darkness.
No special eye protection is required to view the eclipse. Viewers can view the Moon with the naked eye or use binoculars or telescopes to get a closer view.
To notice the moon’s subtle reduction in size over time, stay outside for a few hours or take several glimpses throughout the night, said KaChun Yu, a curator at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
“You may not see much happening from one minute to the next,” Yu said.
For a more spectacular view of the Moon, skywatchers can mark their calendars for March 13. The Moon will be totally eclipsed by Earth’s shadow and will be painted red by stray fragments of sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere.
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