On September 18, a partial lunar eclipse will occur. Nowhere near as dramatic as a total solar eclipse, it can still be a fascinating sight.
Lunar eclipses are caused by the Earth moving between the sun and the moon. It casts the Earth’s shadow on the moon’s surface. This week, the shadow doesn’t completely cover the moon, so it’s called a partial eclipse, not a total one.
Even for a partial eclipse, this particular one is modest. At the moment of greatest eclipse, the darkest part of Earth’s shadow will cover just 3.5% of the Moon’s visible hemisphere. Nevertheless, it is fascinating to watch for the moment the shadow begins to bite into the moon and creep across its surface.
The eclipse will be visible across Europe, Africa, Greenland and North and South America, but you’ll need to set your alarm for this one. From London, the noticeable part of the eclipse (known as the umbral phase) will begin at 03:13 BST; maximum eclipse will occur at 03:44 BST; and the event will end at 04:15 BST.
As with most celestial observations involving the moon, no equipment is required: just your eyes and, in this case, a strong morning cup of coffee.
