Look up next Sunday to see a truly special cosmic event: A supermoon total lunar eclipse.
On Sept. 27, the moon will be cast in a red glow during a total lunar eclipse that happens when the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit.
Not only will the moon be at its closest point to Earth in it orbit on Sept. 27, it will also pass completely into Earth’s shadow, turning the lunar body into a red-tinted “blood moon” for anyone who has clear, dark skies on the planet’s surface.
This will mark the first time a total lunar eclipse during a supermoon has occurred since 1982, and it won’t happen again until 2033.
During a supermoon, the moon can actually look up to 14% larger in diameter; however, everyday skywatchers might not be able to tell the difference.
The moon shines red during total lunar eclipses because some sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere and shines onto the lunar surface, casting it in a ghostly pallor.
The eclipse begins when the moon passes through Earth’s penumbra the outer, lighter shadow cast by the planet. It will then move fully into the umbra, the dark shadow cast by the planet, at which point, the moon will be cast in a red light.
Scientists can also collect a fair bit of data about the moon during a lunar eclipse that they wouldn’t be able to get otherwise.
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