Astroblog: Don't forget, Penumbral eclipse of the Moon this Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Don't forget, Penumbral eclipse of the Moon this Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Comparison of brightness of the Moon at 8:00 pm ACDST (left panel) and at eclipse maximum (10:47 ADST) as seen from Adelaide. Note the subtle darkening of the Moon (click to embiggen).

Just a reminder that on the evening of Wednesday 23 March there is a penumbral eclipse of the Moon, where the Moon glides through the outer segment of the shadow cast by earth.

In contrast to a total or partial lunar eclipse, where the Moon is either fully or partially immersed in Earth’s shadow, viewers will only see a subtle darkening of the southern part of the Moon’s disk. You can see an actual example of a penumbral eclipse here.

Eastern and central states get to see the whole event, for Western Australia the Moon rises with the eclipse well under way.

For the East Coast Moon the eclipse begins at 7:37 pm AEST (8:37 AEDST), maximum eclipse is at 9:47 pm (10:47 pm AEDST), the eclipse ends at 11:57 pm (00:57 March 24 AEDST).

For the Central states the eclipse begins at 7:07 pm ACST (8:07 ACDST), maximum eclipse is at 9:17 pm (10:17 pm ACDST), the eclipse ends at 11:27 pm (00:27 March 24 ACDST).

For Western Australia Moon Rise is around 6:07 pm (see twilight/sunset calculator below), the eclipse begins at 5:37 pm AWST, so the Moon rises partly eclipsed, astronomical twilight ends 8:04 pm maximum eclipse at 7:47 pm, and the eclipse finishes at 9:57 pm

See here for a map and contact timings in UT for sites outside Australia

Labels: binocular, eclipse, Moon, unaided eye