Last Total Lunar Eclipse Until 2025

With memories of the last total lunar eclipse back in May still fresh in our minds, the Sun, Earth and Moon are once again lining up for a spectacular celestial show. In the early morning hours of November 8, we will once again have the chance to see magic in the sky with another total eclipse.

The earth plays a part in one or two lunar eclipses in a given year as the moon catches our planet’s shadow. Sometimes the moon is immersed in total darkness while other times is partial. There will be partial eclipses in the year 2023 and 2024 with about 20% and 15% of the lunar landscape covered respectively. Our next chance to witness the colourful total eclipse will occur on March 14, 2025.

This month’s event will be enjoyed in its entirety from Central, Mountain and Pacific times zones. Whereas Eastern, Atlantic as well as Newfoundland and Labrador will experience the moon setting while still eclipsed. If you have never seen this magical event, be sure to set your clocks and try your hand at photographing the eclipse. After all, pixels are free.

At 9 p.m. local time on November 1, the moon will be to the lower left of the ringed planet Saturn. Jupiter is seen high in the sky while orange-coloured Mars is rising in the northeast. It forms a nice triangle with the stars Capella in the constellation Auriga and Aldebaran or the eye of the angry bull Taurus. You will have probably noticed the brightening of Mars over the past weeks. It keeps getting brighter until its closest approach to Earth on December 8 and will shine at magnitude minus 1.86. The night before, the Moon occults Mars and will be something to see.  

The annual Leonid meteor shower takes place from November 6 to November 30 with the peak being on the night of the 16th into the morning of the 17th. The radiant or the area where the cometary debris of Comet Temple-Tuttle strikes our atmosphere is located in the “sickle” portion of Leo the Lion. Unfortunately, the 41% waning moon will rise just before midnight local time causing a bit of skyglow. A weak hour rate of 10 meteors per hour is predicted, far from the meteor storm a couple of decades ago.

This month’s new moon occurs on November 23. Be sure to set your clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning the 6th as Daylight Saving Time ends.

Newfoundland and Labrador Time
Partial umbral eclipse begins: 5:39 a.m. Moon enters the earth's shadow.
Total lunar eclipse begins: 6:46 a.m. Moon turns dark orange or red.
Greatest eclipse: 6:51 a.m. The eclipse moon begins to set in the west.
Total lunar eclipse ends: Moon ready set.
Partial umbral eclipse ends: Moon ready set.  

Atlantic Time
Partial umbral eclipse begins: 5:09 a.m. Moon enters the earth's shadow.
Total lunar eclipse begins: 6:16 a.m. Moon turns dark orange or red.
Greatest eclipse: 6:59 a.m. The eclipse moon begins to set in the west.
Total lunar eclipse ends: Moon ready set.  
Partial umbral eclipse ends: Moon ready set.

Eastern Time
Partial umbral eclipse begins: 4:09 a.m. Moon enters the earth's shadow.
Total lunar eclipse begins: 5:16 a.m. Moon turns dark orange or red.
Greatest eclipse: 5:59 a.m. Mid-point of the eclipse.
Total lunar eclipse ends: 6:41 a.m. Moon begins to leave the shadow as it sets in the west.
Partial umbral eclipse ends: Moon ready set.

Central Time
Partial umbral eclipse begins: 3:09 a.m. Moon enters the earth's shadow.
Total lunar eclipse begins: 4:16 a.m. Moon turns dark orange or red.
Greatest eclipse: 4:59 a.m. Mid-point of the eclipse.
Total lunar eclipse ends: 5:41 a.m. Moon begins to leave the shadow.
Partial umbral eclipse ends: 6:49 a.m. Moon exits earth's shadow.

Mountain Time
Partial umbral eclipse begins: 2:09 a.m. Moon enters the earth's shadow.
Total lunar eclipse begins: 3:16 a.m. Moon turns dark orange or red.
Greatest eclipse: 3:59 a.m. Mid-point of the eclipse.
Total lunar eclipse ends: 4:41 a.m. Moon begins to leave the shadow.
Partial umbral eclipse ends: 5:49 a.m. Moon exits earth's shadow.

Pacific Time
Partial umbral eclipse begins: 1:09 a.m. Moon will rise as the eclipse begins.
Total lunar eclipse begins: 2:16 a.m. Moon turns dark orange or red.
Greatest eclipse: 2:59 a.m. Mid-point of the eclipse.
Total lunar eclipse ends: 3:41 a.m. Moon begins to leave the shadow.
Partial umbral eclipse ends: 4:49 a.m. Moon exits earth's shadow.

Clear skies,

Gary Boyle