MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Skywatchers can look forward to a stunning celestial event on Monday with the appearance of the glowing worm moon and a penumbral lunar eclipse. The worm moon, named by Native American tribes for the creatures emerging from hibernation in spring, will reach its fullest at 3 a.m. ET. Meanwhile, a penumbral eclipse will occur, where Earth’s shadow will cast a darker hue on the moon.
The alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth will cause the penumbral eclipse, starting at 12:53 a.m. ET. Dr. Shannon Schmoll, director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, explains that during the eclipse at 3:12 a.m. ET, the moon will appear slightly darker than usual, with a gradient of darkening from one side to the other.
While the worm moon will be visible to everyone across the globe, the penumbral eclipse will only be observable from the night side of Earth, including Europe, North and East Asia, Australia, Africa, North America, and South America. The eclipse is set to conclude at 5:33 a.m. ET, according to EarthSky.
The penumbral eclipse precedes a total solar eclipse on April 8, crossing Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Schmoll notes that lunar and solar eclipses often occur in pairs due to the alignment of the sun, Earth, and moon. The unique conditions of a full moon caught in Earth’s shadow during a penumbral eclipse set the stage for a solar eclipse during the moon’s next new moon phase.
As skygazers await the upcoming celestial events in 2024, the September and October lunar occurrences will be considered supermoons, closer to Earth than usual. Astronomers note that the phenomenon occurs when the moon is within 90% of perigee, its closest approach to Earth in orbit.
In addition to the lunar events, a multitude of meteor showers are expected to peak throughout the year. Skywatchers can mark their calendars for various meteor events, including the Lyrids, Eta Aquariids, Southern delta Aquariids, and many more. Each meteor shower provides a captivating opportunity for observers to appreciate the wonders of the night sky and the universe beyond.