The first full moon since the summer solstice happens tonight, known as the Buck Moon also ties in nicely with a Partial Lunar Eclipse and the fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon launch.
Here's all you need to know:
- Look to the Southeastern horizon
- The peak occurs around 10:30pm but should be visible not long after sunset
- During the eclipse, the moon will be low in the sky so make sure you don't have any obstacles in the way of the horizon.
Will the skies be clear?
What is a Partial Lunar Eclipse?
A lunar eclipse is where the Earth travels between the moon and the sun casting a shadow on the moon and pushing it into total darkness. A partial eclipse occurs when only part of the moon is covered by the Earths shadow, such as tonight when around 65% of the visible surface of the moon will be put into darkness.
Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse can be enjoyed with the naked eye and is completely safe to look at in all its beauty.
Why do we not get a lunar eclipse every month?
The Moon travels to a similar position every month at full Moon, however the tilt of the moon's orbit means that it normally passes above or below the Earth's shadow and therefore no eclipse takes place.