Washington stargazers are in for a treat tonight – Tuesday, September 17th, as three very rare lunar phenomena occur simultaneously. Look up to the sky tonight in Washington State and hopefully you’ll catch a glimpse of the Harvest Moon, Supermoon, and Partial Lunar Eclipse all happening at the same time.
When can you see the Partial Lunar Eclipse?
Moonrise in Seattle will happen at 19:17:30 according to Time and Date website. The maximum partial lunar eclipse will occur at 19:44:18 tonight. And the partial lunar eclipse will end at 20:15:38.
Where can I view the Partial Super Harvest Moon Eclipse around Seattle?
Of course, the very best way to observe the Partial Super Harvest Moon Eclipse is at a good viewing spot with very little light pollution. This can be difficult to find in the city. But you can take a look at this very useful light pollution map for better insight on where to go if your neighborhood is too bright. Some recommended urban skygazing spots include:
What is a Partial Lunar Eclipse?
A Lunar Eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow. A Partial Lunar Eclipse occurs when only a portion of the moon will be obscured by the Earth’s shadow.
What is a Supermoon?
A Supermoon is when the Full Moon is at or near the closest point in its orbit around the Earth. This makes the Full Moon appear even larger in the sky. This year there will be 4 Supermoons occurring. We just saw an incredibly Rare Super Blue Moon this past August.
Why is it called a Harvest Moon?
The Full Moon of September, called the Harvest Moon, traditionally marks the onset of autumn. This September’s Harvest Moon is the 2nd of 4 Supermoons occurring in 2024. It’s called a Harvest Moon because it was traditionally the time that farm workers in the Northern Hemisphere would would take advantage of the extra moon light to harvest their crops late into the night.
When is the next Supermoon?
The next full moon after today’s Harvest Moon will be the full Hunter’s Moon on Thursday, October 17th. The Hunter’s Moon always come right after the Harvest Moon. Plus, this Hunter’s Moon will be the biggest and brightest Supermoon of 2024.