During a penumbral lunar eclipse, left, part of the moon is temporarily cloaked by the outer part of the Earth's shadow. The effect is subtle, but noticeable. (David M. F. Chapman/Royal Astronomical Society of Canada)
Two cosmic events, a penumbral lunar eclipse tonight and a meteor shower on Sunday, may make it worth your while this weekend to cast a glance at the night sky.
Starting just before 8 p.m. ET Friday, the bottom half of the full moon will be darkened by the Earth's shadow during the penumbral lunar eclipse.
The Earth's shadow has two distinct regions: A very dark, central region called the umbra, and a diffuse outer region called the penumbra.
The penumbra will cause the moon to get dimmer Friday night until about two-thirds of the moon is cloaked in shadow at 8:50 p.m. People in Eastern Canada will be able to see the entire event, but it will be well underway at moonrise for those in Central and Western Canada. This penumbral eclipse will be subtle but still noticeable to anyone who stops to take a look.
Even subtle eclipses can "help people understand that our solar system is in motion," said Colin Haig, vice-president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. "It's a fairly rare event, a couple times a year at best and it happens in a matter of a few hours."
Sunday night to dawn on Monday will be the peak of the Orionid meteor shower.
"In the darker hours, look towards [the constellation] Orion the hunter, generally in the southeast sky," says Haig, and it will appear that meteors are coming from Orion's club.
The meteor shower will peak at 10 to 20 meteors per hour just before dawn on Monday, according to Earthsky.org. Unfortunately, the brightness of the full moon will make the meteors difficult to see for most Canadians.
People in Eastern Canada will be able to see the entire penumbral lunar eclipse, but it will be well underway Friday night at moonrise for people in Central and Western Canada. (Fred Espenak/Royal Astronomical Society of Canada)
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