How to Watch and View the Snow Moon, Lunar Eclipse, and Comet Date this Friday, Feb. 10
Friday night is going to be a very special evening. On Feb. 10, three celestial events are going to take place simultaneously, and skywatchers will get the chance to see a penumbral lunar eclipse, a full moon and a passing comet on the same evening, so get those binoculars ready.
According to the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO), the full moon, which is traditionally called a snow moon in February in North America, will occur at 7:33 p.m. ET on Friday night.
EarthSky said the penumbral lunar eclipse will start at 5:34 p.m. ET, but skywatchers will have to wait until 7:44 p.m. ET to see the eclipse at its maximum. The moon should appear darkest at this time, and according to USNO, watchers should notice a gray shading on the northern limb of the moon closest to the umbra. CNN has noted that this will only be a partial eclipse, so it will not be as remarkable as the blood moon eclipses.
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"The outer part of Earth's penumbra is so pale that you won't notice anything until the Moon's edge has slid at least halfway in. So start looking about 90 minutes before mid-eclipse," Sky & Telescope magazine senior editor Alan MacRobert said in a statement.
USA Today has reported that eclipse will be visible in eastern North and South America, Europe, Africa and western Asia.
The penumbral lunar eclipse will end at 9:53 ET, but that's not the end of the show. The greenish comet called Comet 45p (also known as Comet Honda-Mrkos-Pajdušáková) is also going to be visible as it flies by the planet.
According to The Washington Post, the comet will make its closest approach to the planet at 10:30 p.m. ET, however, it will not be visible to the naked eye. Skywatchers should use telescopes or binoculars to see it.
A triple feature like this will not happen often, so grab a pair of binoculars and enjoy the evening looking at the night sky.
