A supermoon and partial lunar eclipse are happening soon. When’s the peak in Wichita?
If you look up in the Kansas skies the night of Tuesday, Sept. 17, you might be able to catch a glimpse at not only a supermoon — but also a partial lunar eclipse.
A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth, according to NASA. NASA calls supermoons the “biggest and brightest” full moons of the year. Supermoons happen three to four times a year and appear consecutively. Tuesday’s supermoon is the harvest supermoon.
The next supermoon will be Oct. 17, followed by the last one of 2024 on Nov. 15. There was also one in August.
A partial lunar eclipse, on the other hand, is when the Earth moves in between the sun and the full moon, but isn’t perfectly aligned. The lunar eclipse will last just over four hours.
Tuesday’s event will be the second lunar eclipse of 2024. The next lunar eclipse will be a total one in March 2025, according to Space.com.
In Wichita, it will begin at 7:41, just minutes after the sun sets, and peak at 9:44 p.m. The lunar eclipse will end at 11:47 p.m.
The National Weather Service forecasts a partially cloudy Tuesday night in Wichita, which could impact viewing. There’s a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 a.m. Wednesday.
There are three full moons left for the year, according to Space.com. Hunter’s moon will occur Oct. 17, beaver moon Nov. 15 and cold moon Dec. 15.
