November's Total Lunar Eclipse at Moonset

November 2022  :  Francine Jackson

Many of us missed part or all of the May 15 – 16 lunar eclipse this year because of clouds; however, we have a reprieve – another total lunar eclipse is coming in just a few days. Unfortunately, though, there is a slight problem – you’ll have to lose a lot of sleep.

Lunar eclipses have an advantage to them that solar eclipses don’t. They are visible to anyone who can see the Moon, as opposed to having to trek someplace to a solar eclipse’s path of totality. A total lunar eclipse is a beautiful sight to see, as its color each time can be different, from a coppery to s brilliant red. This is the result of the Sun, which is behind us, and is shining through layers of our atmosphere. If, for example, a volcano erupted just a few days previous, there will be so much dust and gas in our air that the Moon might seem to almost disappear when in Earth’s primary shadow, the umbra.

On the morning of November 8th, the Moon will slip into the secondary shadow, the penumbra, at 3:02 A.M. A little over an hour later, at 4:09, it will begin to enter the umbra. At 5:16, it will be totally within the umbra, and will be totally eclipsed until 6:41. For us, the Moon will set at 6:32, so we will not see the entire totality, or witness the Moon return to the penumbra.

Let’s hope this lunar eclipse will be able to be seen by all, as 2023 only has a penumbral eclipse in May, and a very partial one in late October, both of which will be seen on the other side of the world. And, 2024 doesn’t look very promising, either. Let’s hope for clear November skies!