
Click on graphic to see it full size.
This Friday, 18 October, the full Moon will pass through the outer and fainter part of the Earth’s shadow in what is known as a
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. This is not a total eclipse where the whole Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, nor is this eclipse one that will darken the Moon as if the Moon had passed through the darker umbral shadow. However about 3/4’s of the Moon will be within the penumbra and so around the time of mid-eclipse the Moon should be less bright enough (dimmer but not darker if that makes any sense) for an observer to notice the eclipse.

Mid-Eclipse
The timing for the eclipse will be such that for all of Africa and most of western Europe the full Moon will have already risen before the eclipse begins. From North and South America the eclipse will start before the Moon rises. From my location at 94oW, in the Midwest United States, the Moon will be at mid-eclipse shortly after the Moon rises as these two graphics show.
Eclipse Starts:
21:50 UT (4:50 pm CDT)
Mid-Eclipse:
23:50 UT (6:50 pm CDT)
Eclipse Ends:
01:50 UT (8:50 pm CDT)
Click here for additional information about this penumbral lunar eclipse from the NASA eclipses web site.As of this morning this NASA web site, and all other NASA as well as U.S. government web sites are again available.
Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for more observing information for this month.
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Bob,
I really enjoy your posts and your articles in Science Scope. I mean no disrespect but, I was offended by your political comment at the end of your post. While I may agree with your frustration about the current government shutdown, I don’t expect a respected science site to enter into this type of discussion.
Respectfully,
Melissa Sleeper
NBCT, EA/Science
MAVEN Educator Ambassador
Melissa.Sleeper@indianriverschools.org
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I understand and appreciate your comments. I was very hesitant to get political but a lot of what I do depends on access to web sites like NASA’s web sites, and yes I am frustrated.
Nonetheless I agree with you and so I have edited that sentence.
And now, (just checked) the website is available.
For those curious – I had at first made a comment about the government shutdown that was politically motivated by my personal feelings. Based on that comment the above reply came in.
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