It might not be as exciting as the total lunar eclipse earlier this month, but this Wednesday morning, Earth's shadow will darken a part of the moon and cause a penumbral lunar eclipse. The event will be visible to many people around the globe, including those in central and western North America.
Penumbral eclipses have a much more subtle effect compared to total solar eclipses, also known as blood moons, so if you're expecting something like the eclipse earlier this month, you might be disappointed. However, the event is a great opportunity for those that missed out on earlier eclipses.
The Earth's shadow is made up of two parts: the darker inner umbra and the lighter outer portion called the penumbra. Penumbral eclipses occur when the moon moves into the penumbra, causing its lower portions to have a smudged, slightly darker appearance.
In addition to the darker moon, at the height of the eclipse Jupiter will be significantly brighter - a magnitude of minus 2.5 - giving it the appearance of a bright star and giving astronomers and enthusiasts the opportunity to snap a clear picture of the massive planet.
Although Wednesday's penumbral eclipse will last for around four hours and 15 minutes, it will only be visible for a few minutes around 7:47 a.m. EDT. Residents of central and western North American will have the best view, while those residing in eastern parts of the continent will miss out, as the moon will have already set before they can get a glimpse.
Residents of the Pacific Ocean region, New Zealand, Japan and eastern Australia will get a view of the entire eclipse, and those in eastern and central Asia will be able to catch a glimpse of part of it. However, those in Africa and Europe will not get to view the event at all.
Due to the moon's orbit around the Earth being out of plane with the planet's path around the sun, eclipses don't happen every month. The next penumbral eclipse will occur this coming September, but residents of the United Sates won't be able to see it, so make sure to catch this one if you're interested. The next total solar eclipse will take place on Jan. 31 of next year.
