ORLANDO, Fla. – Anything you can do I can do better. On the heels of April’s full “Pink” supermoon, May’s full moon will also be super on the evening of Tuesday the 25th. In the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday , that supermoon will be eclipsed by earth’s shadow.
A moon is considered super when it’s within 90% of perigee, which is how there can be multiple supermoons in a year.
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This time around, however, the full moon will also be a part of the best lunar eclipse in the America’s in more than two years. For the western U.S., it will be a total eclipse, meaning the moon will be completely entrenched in the Earth’s shadow as Earth passes in between the sun and moon. This is when the moon turns “blood” red in totality.
In Central Florida, it will be a partial eclipse, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a spectacular sight.
“It’ll be a very dramatic sight because the moon will be setting for us while it’s still partially eclipsed,” said Dr. Yan Fernandez, a professor with the Department of Physics at the University of Central Florida. “We won’t see totality, but having the moon hanging above the horizon with a bite taken out of it is pretty neat to see.”
How to see the partial lunar eclipse
When: Wednesday, May 26
Start: 5:44 a.m. ET
Max eclipse: 6:30 a.m.
Moonset: 6:33 a.m.
Sunrise: 6:30 a.m.
Viewing tips: Since this will be happening low on the horizon, it’s best to get away from buildings and trees so your view won’t be obstructed.
A second lunar eclipse will occur in November. While technically partial, more than 90% of the moon will be covered by Earth’s shadow making this a near-total lunar eclipse.