Tonight, skywatchers are in for a spectacular event as a supermoon, Harvest moon, and partial lunar eclipse will all coincide. The supermoon will appear larger than usual, as it occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth. The lunar eclipse will be partial, with around 3.5% of the moon’s surface being obscured by the Earth’s shadow, creating a noticeable “bite” out of the moon, according to Bruce Betts, chief scientist at the Planetary Society.
The partial eclipse will be visible across the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Africa, and parts of Europe, with the event occurring from 8:41 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday and peaking at 10:44 PM. Although the partial eclipse won’t cover the entire moon, it will still be a striking sight, best viewed in areas with little light pollution.
This supermoon is also a Harvest moon, named for its occurrence closest to the Autumn equinox. Historically, the Harvest moon provided extra light for farmers gathering their crops late into the night. The ideal time to see the supermoon will be early evening when it appears at its largest on the horizon.
If you miss tonight’s supermoon, there will be two more chances this year, with the next supermoons occurring on October 17 and November 15.
