At 9:39 UT (4:39 am CDT) Wednesday March 23rd the full Moon will start passing through the Earth’s shadow setting up the condition for a lunar eclipse. Approximately 24 hours previously the Moon was at its ascending node but since the time for full Moon was about 24 hours after the node crossing the Moon will only pass through the Earth’s fainter outer shadow, the penumbra.
A penumbral eclipse is not nearly as easily seen nor as spectacular as a partial or total lunar eclipse when the Moon passes through the darker inner shadow – the umbra. The fainter outer shadow, the penumbra, barely darkens the appearance of the full Moon.
That’s Jupiter just to the left from the Moon.
Learn more about this eclipse from the Hermit Eclipse web site.
Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for more observing information for this month.
