Penumbral Lunar Eclipse - 2020 JUL 04-05

[CentaurZ]

A Penumbral Lunar Eclipse will be presented to many observers with clear skies in the Americas, Europe and Africa during the night of 2020 JUL 04-05. The Earth’s penumbra is its relatively bright fringe shadow surrounding its much darker inner shadow called the umbra. At maximum eclipse, 35% of the Moon’s diameter will be covered by the penumbra. The Moon’s nearest limb to the umbra will miss it by 65% of the Moon’s diameter. Often a penumbral lunar eclipse is hardly noticeable, as will likely be the case this time.

2020 is an unusual year in which there are four lunar eclipses, and all of them penumbral. The next umbral eclipse will be total and occur on 2021 MAY 26.

Below is my preview graphic for the upcoming penumbral eclipse as seen against an imaginary blue wall to make the shadow fully apparent. The predicted event timings are in CDT (UT-5), but will occur at essentially the same real time for all observers experiencing nighttime. The depicted orientation and Moon altitudes are for an observer in Chicago.

Photos and descriptions of the eclipse would be welcome additions to this thread.

 

 

Edited July 3, 2020 by CentaurZ