When is lunar eclipse? Beaver Moon is about to have the longest partial eclipse of the century

A partial lunar eclipse is expected to be visible before dawn on Friday, November 19. The Moon will appear red because Earth’s shadow covers the full moon. But since this is a partial lunar eclipse, a bright white part of the Moon will still be visible.

What is lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes in the way of sunlight hitting the Moon. During a lunar eclipse, the Moon appears red due to the Earth’s atmosphere, which scatters blue light and allows only red to pass through.

Lunar eclipses happen about twice a year.

What time should I go out and see?

Edward Murphy, a professor of astronomy at the University of Virginia, recommends going outside at 2:15 a.m. to see Earth’s shadow begin to creep into the full moon. He also recommends going back at 4 a.m., when the shadow will cover almost the entire moon and turn a deep red.

Shannon Schmol, director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, said the website timeanddate.com is a reference to help you figure out when a lunar eclipse will begin or end in your area, and what it will look like at a certain time.

Which parts of the US will have the best views?

Most of the US will have a very good view of the lunar eclipse, Ms. Schmol said. It will also be visible from Northern Europe, East Asia and Australia, she said.

Do I need special equipment to view it?

No, unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye. “Just go out and look at the moon,” said Ms. Schmol.

Why is it called Beaver Moon?

This is a surname. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Maine Farmers Almanac began publishing Native American names for the full moon in the 1930s. The November full moon was called the Beaver Moon because it was either the beaver trap set or when the beavers were preparing for winter. According to NASA, other nicknames for the full moon in November include Frosty Moon and Snow Moon.

Is there anything special about this partial lunar eclipse?

Fred Espenak, a retired NASA astronomer and author of the “Five Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses,” said this is expected to be the longest partial lunar eclipse since February 18, 1440, or 581 years ago.

It is expected to run for 3 hours 28 minutes.

Want to know anything else?

Mr. Murphy said that the ancient Greeks found the Earth round by looking at the planet’s round shadow on the Moon. He said that eclipses also helped the Greeks calculate the size of the Earth.