Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Twilight Lunar exclipse (19 November, 2021)
Evening sky on November 19 looking east as seen Adelaide at 20:31 ACDST, at civil twilight. Click to embiggen. | Evening sky on November 19 looking east as seen Brisbane at 19:02 AEST, at mid eclipse |
Evening sky on November 19 looking east as seen Melbourne at 20:43 AEST, at civil twilight | Evening sky on November 19 looking east as seen from Sydney at 20:02 AEDST at mid eclipse |
Thus Friday (19 November) we have a twilight Partial Lunar Eclipse, while its is a very deep partial eclipse, almost total, it will be difficult to see as most of the eclipse occurs in the twilight (see times for major cities below, bolded times are for mid-eclipse occurring after civil twilight).
The Moon rises eclipsed and the shadow slips off the Moon during twilight. Best seen from the east coast, the central states see the final parts of the eclipse in twilight and Western Australia sees virtually nothing. Still will be interesting to see for eastern and central states though.
You don't need special filters or fancy equipment to watch the lunar eclipse, you just need your eyes and somewhere comfortable to sit and watch. Watching the shadow of earth creep across the Moons' face is quite entrancing.
As most of the eclipse occur in the twilight, the eclipsed section of the Moon will be a ghostly ashen colour against the lighted segment (rather than the reddish colour seen after full dark), which adds an extra element to this eclipse. The Moon may be difficult to spot on the East Coast as it rises eclipsed in the east.This is also almost an apogee full Moon ("mini Moon") with apogee occurring on the 21st.
City |
Eclipse start |
Moon rise |
Mid eclipse |
Civil twilight |
Eclipse end |
Nautical twilight |
Adelaide ACDST |
17:48 |
19:59 |
19:32 |
20:31 |
21:17 |
21:06 |
Brisbane AEST |
17:18 |
18:14 |
19:02 |
18:46 |
20:47 |
19:16 |
Cairns AEST |
17:18 |
18:26 |
19:02 |
18:54 |
20:47 |
19:22 |
Canberra AEDST |
18:18 |
19:46 |
20:02 |
20:20 |
21:47 |
20:55 |
Darwin ACST |
16:48 |
18:51 |
18:32 |
19:16 |
20:17 |
19:43 |
Freemantle AWST |
15:18 |
18:58 |
17:02 |
19:25 |
18:47 |
19:58 |
Hobart AEDST |
18:18 |
19:43 |
20:02 |
20:21 |
21:47 |
21:03 |
Melbourne AEDST |
18:18 AEDST |
20:09 |
20:02 |
20:43 |
21:47 |
21:19 |
Perth AWST |
15:18 |
18:58 |
17:02 |
19:25 |
18:47 |
19:58 |
Sydney AEDST |
18:18 |
19:34 |
20:02 |
20:07 |
21:47 |
20:41 |
Labels: eclipse, Moon, partial, unaided eye