Tonight’s Wolf Moon crossed paths with Earth’s shadow for the first time this year, losing some of its beautiful glow. The penumbral eclipse will wrap up by 9.12pm GMT tonight but the good news is more eclipses are on their way.
In total, astronomers are looking forward to a busy new year of six eclipses.
Four of the upcoming events will be penumbral eclipses like the one tonight.
The remaining two will be solar eclipses, including a spectacular total eclipse of the Sun to end the year.
Read on below to learn more about when these breathtaking spectacles will occur.
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When is the next lunar eclipse?
After tonight’s January Wolf Moon leaves the Earth’s shadow for good, three more lunar eclipses will take place in the coming months.
The eclipses will be penumbral ones, meaning the Moon will pass through Earth’s weaker and more diffused shadow – the penumbra.
The eclipses will take place on June 5, July 5 and November 30 respectively.
For a more dazzling show to match last year’s Wolf Blood Moon eclipse, you will have to wait until May 26, 2021.
On that date, the Full Moon will pass through Earth’s direct and stronger shadow – the umbra.
When is the next solar eclipse?
Solar eclipses tend to be much more exciting than lunar eclipses because they can momentarily turn daytime into night.
Solar eclipses happen once every 18 months
NASA
In 2020, we will have one total eclipse of the Sun and one annular eclipse.
The annular eclipse will arrive first on June 21, peaking over Africa, southeast Europe and Asia.
During this type of eclipse, the Moon is at its farthest orbit of Earth and does not quite cover the entire face of the Sun.
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As a result, you can still see the glowing outline of the Sun around the edges of the Moon.
Annular eclipses are often dubbed “Ring of Fire” eclipses.
The US space agency NASA said: “Solar eclipses happen once every 18 months.
“Unlike lunar eclipses, solar eclipses only last for a few minutes.”
A total eclipse of the Sun will then greet astronomers on December 14.
During totality, the Moon and Sun cross paths and the lunar orb completely blots out the burning star.
The resulting shadow then falls onto a small part of the planet almost as of the night had begun.
NASA said: “The people who see the total eclipse are in the centre of the moon’s shadow when it hits Earth. The sky becomes very dark as if it were night.
“For a total eclipse to take place, the sun, moon and Earth must be in a direct line.”
The eclipse will be visible over the Pacific, Chile, Argentina and the South Atlantic.
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