What it is: The moon reaching its first-quarter stage, as seen from the International Space Station (ISS)
When it was released: March 19, 2024
Where it is: 270 miles (435 kilometers) above the South Atlantic Ocean
Why it’s so unique: The moon will be eclipsed by Earth in the early hours of March 25. It will absolutely eclipse the sun on April 8.
This picture of the moon was taken as our satellite reached its first-quarter stage, which happens about a week after a brand-new moon and a week before a moon. It was drawn from the ISS as it skyrocketed almost 270 miles (435 kilometers) above the South Atlantic Ocean throughout a really unique orbit of the moon.
Monday (March 25) begins 2024’s very first “eclipse season,” the name for among the 2 35-day durations each year when lunar and solar eclipses can happen.
Related: 7 safe methods to see the partial stages of the overall solar eclipse on April 8
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In the early hours of March 25, the moon will turn complete and be eclipsed by Earth. It will not be an ideal positioning. If it were, it would be an overall lunar eclipse, likewise referred to as a Blood Moon. Rather, it will be a penumbral lunar eclipse, throughout which the moon will move just through Earth’s external shadow, its penumbra.
Throughout the occasion– which will happen in between 12:53 and 5:32 a.m. EDT, peaking at 3:12 a.m. EDT, according to Time and Date– the edge of Earth’s shadow will be seen crossing the lunar surface area.
If that’s a near-miss eclipse, the one that comes at the end of the moon’s present orbit will be anything. On Monday, April 8, the brand-new moon– referred to as the New Pink Moon this month– will completely line up with the sun and Earth, completely eclipsing our star. The minute, called syzygy, will trigger a main solar eclipse.
All of North America will experience a minimum of a partial solar eclipse, while those within a 115-mile-wide (185 kilometers) course of totality– a forecast of the moon’s shadow– will experience an overall solar eclipse on April 8. Overall solar eclipses happen in the exact same location two times every 366 years, usually, according to brand-new research study by NASA.
