A Partial Eclipse and Supermoon Will Soon Light Up the Northern California Sky

Get ready, Northern California! A dazzling celestial event is coming our way on September 17th, featuring a supermoon and a partial lunar eclipse in the same evening sky.

On this special night, the moon will be closer to Earth than usual, making it a “supermoon.” This means the moon will appear 14% bigger and 30% brighter than normal, although this difference might not be immediately obvious to the naked eye. The September supermoon also coincides with the full moon and is known as the “Harvest Moon” — the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, named for its timing with the traditional harvest season.

But that’s not all. Along with the supermoon, a partial lunar eclipse will occur, where the Earth’s shadow will cast a dark veil over part of the moon, creating a stunning visual effect.

The partial eclipse is expected to last about an hour and will be visible in the evening across the West Coast as the moon rises. According to NASA, the eclipse will begin at 5:41 p.m. PST when the moon starts entering the Earth’s shadow. By 7:13 p.m., the shadow will be clearly visible, reaching its peak at 7:44 p.m. when approximately 8% of the moon will be covered. The moon will exit the Earth’s full shadow by 8:16 p.m.

Mark your calendars and get your cameras ready for a magical night under the Northern California sky!