On Friday night, the first full moon of 2020 will be one of the best of the year, thanks to a penumbral lunar eclipse.
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon transits behind Earth, passing through the outer rim of the Earth’s shadow, or the penumbra, with respect to the sun.
Those in the Western Hemisphere who wish to catch this celestial event will have to tune in to online lunar-casts this afternoon — well before the sun sets on this side of the planet.
Also, tonight’s full “Wolf Moon” promises to be a stunner, especially for stargazers in the Southwest, where there is a forecast of clear skies throughout Friday night.
What is the ‘Wolf Moon’ and where did it get its name?
January’s “Wolf Moon” was named for the howling canine, which is said to howl more often during winter months, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, and could be heard clearly by Native Americans and early settlers who coined the lunar moniker.
A penumbral lunar eclipse over Punjab, PakistanGetty ImagesWhen is this year’s ‘Wolf Moon’?
The full “Wolf Moon” will rise just before 5 p.m. Friday, and should be clearly visible to those in the Pacific Southwest, throughout the Rockies and the Northern Plains, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Eastern US, Pacific Northwest and parts of the Midwest should expect some clouds or precipitation.
Does it have any other names?
Other names for January’s full moon, derived from indigenous groups, colonial Americans and other traditions, include the “Cold Moon,” the “Old Moon” and the “Great Spirit Moon.”
Who can see the eclipse?
This partial eclipse will be most visible to those in the Eastern Hemisphere, where those in Europe, Africa and much of Asia will have first-row seats and should check TimeAndDate.com for details specific to their area. For those gazing from a western vantage point, there are several websites planning to stream the eclipse live Friday night, including the Slooh digital observatory, which is powered by a robotic telescope and broadcast online. Their livestream begins during the eclipse peak at 2:30 p.m. EST and lasts until 4:15 p.m. Since Slooh has a global network of telescopes, weather will not interfere with the show.
Slooh said their “team of experts will discuss what makes this type of lunar eclipse the most subtle of all eclipses — difficult to see with naked eyes, but visible using Slooh’s telescopes as we watch the moon darken slightly as it passes into Earth’s outer penumbral shadow,” Space.com reports.
Other livestreams of the eclipse include one filmed “above the epic skyline of Rome, the Eternal City,” beginning at noon EST, as well as CosmoSapiens’ webcast.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon, the “Snow Moon,” will rise on Feb. 9. This year the world is blessed with one extra full moon, making 13 for 2020 — one for each month except October, which has a second full moon, a “Blue Moon” on the 31st.
