November 2021 Lunar Eclipse

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Garrulus_-_Eclipse

(Source: Wikimedia Commons/Frederik Vandaele)

This month we are treated with a great view of a lunar eclipse.  It is a partial eclipse, but very nearly total, with about 99% of the Moon entering Earth's umbra.  So at maximum eclipse, there will only be a tiny sliver of the Moon receiving direct sunlight, while most of it will be dark.

The eclipse will begin in the late evening of Thursday, November 18, and go into the early morning of Friday, November 19.  Here are the exact timings:

Penumbral eclipse begins at 11:02 PM
Umbral eclipse begins at 12:19 AM
Maximum eclipse occurs at 2:03 AM
Umbral eclipse ends at 3:47 AM
Penumbral eclipse ends at 5:04 AM

The beginning and end of the penumbral portion of the eclipse will be barely noticeable, but as it gets closer to the umbral portion, you will easily notice the Moon looking dimmer than usual.  Then during the umbral portion, you will see a definite "bite" out of the Moon as the Earth blocks the sunlight completely from part of the Moon's surface.

With most of the direct sunlight being blocked from the Moon, you should be able to notice the "blood Moon" effect.  A reddish color appears in the darkened area due to the indirect sunlight refracting through Earth's atmosphere.

The photo included here is from a similar eclipse that happened in 2003 to give you an idea of what you might see this time near maximum eclipse.

Science Snacks – Space Bites – All About Lunar Eclipses

Discover how and why Lunar Eclipses occur!

Note: This video references the penumbral eclipse of November 2020.

Extra Info

Time & Date