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Moon watchers rejoice: The first lunar eclipse of 2021 will be visible on Wednesday, May 26 to people living in parts of North America, South America, Asia, and Australia.
This is a total lunar eclipse — when the Earth sits directly between the Sun and the Moon. The Moon will darken and turn red as light from the Sun bends around Earth. But a few things set this eclipse apart...
There were a few partial and penumbral lunar eclipses in 2020, but the last total lunar eclipse was January 21, 2019.
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After a long wait, this total eclipse also coincides with another big lunar event: a Supermoon. In fact, this event has the auspicious title of Super Flower Blood Moon.
The Moon will be at the closest point in its orbit to Earth during the eclipse, so it will appear larger and brighter than usual — a Supermoon. “Flower Moon” is the nickname given to the May full Moon.
So putting all these elements together — proximity, color, and month — this is a Super Flower Blood Moon.
A supermoon eclipse will be short but sweet. Because the Earth and Moon are so close, the Moon will pass through Earth’s shadow more quickly, making the eclipse’s totality only 15 minutes long. (The total eclipse in January 2019 lasted a little more than an hour.)
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Don’t be too upset if you can’t catch the show on May 26. The next lunar eclipse is right around the corner, on November 18.
The November eclipse won’t be total like the one in May, but rather, 97 percent of the Moon will be covered in shadow. So it will be close.
Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii are the best places to see the entire eclipse unless you happen to live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
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