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See the penumbral eclipse of the Hunter’s Moon on October 18-19

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October 17, 2013

The full moon on Friday night and into Saturday morning – the night of October 18-19, 2013 – will undergo a subtle lunar eclipse. It’ll be the last lunar eclipse of 2013. This is a special moon for us anyway, in the Northern Hemisphere: it’s the Hunter’s Moon. This penumbral lunar eclipse is not as striking as a total, or even partial, eclipse of the moon. But very observant people, and/or photographers, might be able to see or capture it.

Be forewarned. The moon will not dip into the Earth’s dark umbral shadow during this eclipse. At no time will it appear as if a dark bite has been taken from the moon. At best, the penumbral eclipse may be seen as a shading of the moon’s southern limb. This is a relatively deep penumbral eclipse, however, with 76% of the moon shaded by the Earth’s penumbral shadow at mid-eclipse.

Date of Eclipse: October 18-19, 2013
Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 21:51 UTC
Greatest Eclipse: 23:50 UTC
Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 01:50 UTC

Moon_penumbral_eclipse_Raj_Hardia_Indore_India_11-28-2012 — Raj Hardia in Indore, India caught this photo of the November 28, 2012 penumbral lunar eclipse soon after it began. The shadow on the moon is coming from the left in this photo. It’s very, very subtle.

Moon_penumbral_eclipse_Raj_Hardia_Indore_India_2_11-28-2012 — As the November 28, 2012 penumbral lunar eclipse progressed, and more and more of Earth’s light penumbral shadow covered the moon, Raj Hardia in India was able to capture this view. The shadow is still coming in from the left, but now it covers more of the moon. Thank you, Raj! Awesome photos.

October 18 lunar eclipse map of world — Europe and Africa will have the best chance of witnessing the Earth’s penumbral shadow faintly darkening the south side of the moon.

You’re more likely to see the eclipse from Europe or Africa than from North America. As seen from the eastern part of North America, the moon’s disk will already be partially covered over by the Earth’s faint penumbral shadow when this full moon rises in the east at dusk on Friday. For us in the U.S, even as the eclipse is happening, you’ll be seeing the moon low in the sky, peering at it through more atmosphere than when the moon is overhead. Thus this very subtle penumbral lunar eclipse might not even be noticeable.

From Europe and Africa, the penumbral eclipse takes place at late night (instead of evening or morning twilight). It’ll be easier to notice the eclipse from there, because the moon will be high in the sky as the eclipse is taking place.

For the most of Asia, the moon will be in eclipse as its sets at sunrise on Saturday, October 19. Same problem there as in the U.S.: you’ll be looking at the moon through a greater thickness of Earth’s atmosphere than if the moon were overhead.

Mid-eclipse is at 23:50 UTC (7:50 p.m. EDT). That’s when the greatest coverage of the moon by Earth’s penumbral shadow will occur, and it’s when you’re most likely to recognize that something strange is happening on the moon.

Forecast conditions Friday night - eclipse night - for the northeastern U.S. and Canada. Map via Accuweather. Used with permission. — Forecast conditions Friday night – eclipse night – for the northeastern U.S. and Canada. Map via Accuweather. Used with permission.

Forecast conditions Friday night - eclipse night - for Europe. Map via Accuweather. Used with permission. — Forecast conditions Friday night – eclipse night – for Europe. Map via Accuweather. Used with permission.

A penumbral eclipse is a very, very subtle kind of eclipse. Will it be noticeable to you? Look and see!

The next easily visible eclipse will be April 15, 2014, seen as either a total or partial eclipse from Australia and eastern Asia across the Pacific to North and South America.

Bottom line: The Hunter’s Moon – a full moon – on the night of October 18-19, 2013 will undergo a subtle kind of eclipse called a penumbral eclipse. At no time will it appear as if a dark bite has been taken from the moon. At mid-eclipse, around 23:51 UTC (7:51 EDT), the moon will appear as if it has a subtle shading draw across it.

Left, an ordinary full moon with no eclipse. Right, full moon in penumbral eclipse on November 20, 2002. Master eclipse photographer Fred Espenak took this photo when the moon was 88.9% immersed in Earth's penumbral shadow. — Left, an ordinary full moon with no eclipse. Right, full moon in penumbral eclipse on November 20, 2002. Master eclipse photographer Fred Espenak took this photo when the moon was 88.9% immersed in Earth’s penumbral shadow.

Everything you need to know: Hunter’s Moon 2013

Photos from friends: Penumbral eclipse of moon November 28, 2012

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October 17, 2013

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Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:

Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.