BY KAREN BOSSICK
At last, something at night to get us out of the COVID cave we’ve been dwelling in the past eight months. Mother Nature willing, we’ll be able to see Earth’s shadow on the moon in the early hours of Monday, Nov. 30.
That’s when the full Frosty Moon, also called a Beaver Moon, drifts into Earth’s shadow.
The penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon line up. So, the sun is opposite the moon, illuminating 100 percent of its surface.
It’s said to be an odd sight as the full moon will change from a bright white orb to a muted dim grey object for a few hours. On Monday 83 percent of the moon will be covered at its peak.
The event should be visible for 4.5 hours, starting at 12:30 a.m. Mountain Time Monday and ending just before 5 a.m. Mountain Time. The best part should take place at 2:43 a.m.
The next total lunar eclipse, also known as a blood moon, will occur on May 26, 2021. It will be viewable only from parts of the western United States, western South America, Southeast Asia and Australia.