Partial lunar eclipse to be visible in Polokwane

Celestial lovers are in for a triple treat as Wednesday's super harvest moon will also be a super moon and experience a partial lunar eclipse.

A photo of a lunar eclipse for illustrative purposes. Photo: Pixabay.

POLOKWANE – An early morning treat is on the cards for moon lovers on Wednesday (September 18) with the ninth full moon of the year.

Celestial lovers can look forward to a super harvest moon that will also be a super moon and experience a partial lunar eclipse.

The eclipse will turn the moon a murky red-brown color, according to Space.com, when Earth’s shadow descends upon the lunar surface.

“In a partial lunar eclipse, only a portion of the moon passes into Earth’s shadow, creating the appearance of a hazy “bite” taken out of the lunar surface. The shadow will darken the side of the moon facing Earth. The size of this “bite” is determined by the alignment of the sun, Earth and moon. About 3.5% of the moon’s visible surface will be covered by the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, the umbra. The rest of the full moon will take on a slightly reddish-brown appearance as the lighter portion of Earth’s shadow which doesn’t entirely block the sun’s light will descend upon a majority of the lunar surface,” their website reals.

The partial lunar eclipse is extra special as it also falls during a “supermoon”, the second of four supermoons in a row for 2024.

Popular South African meteorologists, the Vox Weather Girls, report that the harvest moon is the closest full moon to the Spring Equinox which will happen on Sunday (September 22).

The partial eclipse will be visible to South Africans in the early hours of Wednesday morning, if you are able to wake up on time.

“The eclipse will be visible between 02:41 and 06:47. If you want to catch the best moment, the peak of this partial eclipse will be around 04:44 on Wednesday morning,” they state.

@vox_weather_girls 🌕 Super Harvest Moon Eclipse Alert! 🌕 Have you heard about this week’s celestial event? It’s not just any full moon – it’s a supermoon, a Harvest Moon, and it comes with a partial lunar eclipse! 🤯 On 18 September, the night sky will be lit up with 2024’s Harvest Moon, the closest full moon to the Spring Equinox. And it gets even better – the Moon will also be larger than usual, earning it the title of a supermoon! 🌝 The partial eclipse will be visible in South Africa from 02:41 to 06:47, with the peak at 04:44. Don’t miss this rare spectacle! Set your alarms, moon lovers! ##voxweathergirls #supermoon #harvestmoon #lunareclipse #fyp ♬ Epic News – DM Production