Title: Skywatchers Behold Partial Lunar Eclipse Ahead of Halloween
Subtitle: Millions in the Eastern Hemisphere treated to a spooky celestial spectacle
Date: October 28, 2023
The Full Hunter’s Moon graced the night sky on Saturday, October 28, as a partial lunar eclipse captivated stargazers across the Eastern Hemisphere. This astronomical event, which marked the last of four eclipses of 2023, offered a thrilling preview of the upcoming Halloween festivities.
The partial lunar eclipse occurred when the moon passed through a portion of Earth’s shadow. Visible from Europe, Asia, Africa, and parts of Australia, the eclipse provided a captivating view of the moon gradually disappearing into Earth’s shadow. Stargazers across select regions in the United States, including New York, Alaska, and North Carolina, were also able to witness the final stages of the eclipse.
For those unable to view the eclipse in person, several live webcasts captured the event for online viewers. TimeandDate.com and the Virtual Telescope Project in Ceccano, Italy provided breathtaking livestreams of the celestial event. Additionally, telescopes stationed in Bergen (Norway), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), and Perth (Australia) recorded the eclipse, with the Norway footage revealing the remarkable presence of the planet Jupiter beside the moon.
In Dubai, nearly 200 astronomy enthusiasts gathered at the Al Thuraya Astronomy center in Mushrif Park to witness the lunar eclipse, with the Dubai Astronomy Group webcasting the event for a wider audience. Khadijah Ahmad, operations manager of the Dubai Astronomy Group, expressed her excitement as observers of all ages marveled at the moon without an occasional glance at their phones.
Despite cloudy weather in London, England, a fortunate skywatcher managed to capture stunning images of the moon during the peak of the eclipse. The observer, known as @FunkyAppleTree on Twitter, expressed delight on social media as the clouds conveniently parted just in time for the climax of the eclipse.
Enthusiasts from locations worldwide also took to social media to share their experiences. Shweta from Delhi, India, marveled at the clear view of the partial lunar eclipse, while Alma Alfafara from Cebu City, Philippines shared a stunning photograph she captured during the peak of the eclipse.
Lorenzo Di Cola, a photojournalist from Italy, provided a unique perspective of the lunar eclipse, documenting the Earth’s shadow on the moon from L’Aquila, Italy.
The partial lunar eclipse began in the afternoon and lasted approximately 4.5 hours, involving the moon partially entering Earth’s darkest shadow, known as the umbra. As the last lunar eclipse of 2023, enthusiasts will have to wait until March 24, 2024, for the next one. However, this upcoming eclipse will be less impressive, as the moon will only pass through the Earth’s outer shadow, known as the penumbra.
The celestial spectacle of the partial lunar eclipse on October 28 served as a remarkable prelude to Halloween, captivating millions of skywatchers across the Eastern Hemisphere. As the fascination with the night sky continues to inspire and astound, astronomy enthusiasts eagerly await the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, which will be visible from Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
For those interested in observing celestial events, comprehensive guides to telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography gear are available to assist in capturing the wonders of the night sky.
If you captured an image of the Hunter’s Moon or any other astronomical phenomena, Space.com invites you to share your photo, comments, name, and location by emailing them to [email protected].
Sources:
– TimeandDate.com
– Getty Images
– @FunkyAppleTree on Twitter
– @imshwetta on Twitter
– @sciencekonek on Twitter
– Lorenzo Di Cola/NurPhoto via Getty Images
– Space.com