A partial lunar eclipse is coming up in September, and you can watch it online for free.
On Tuesday (September 17), the Full Harvest Moon will experience a partial lunar eclipse that will be visible in North and South America (except Alaska), Europe, most of Africa, western Asia, and parts of Antarctica. This eclipse will take place during a “supermoon,” which will make the moon appear slightly larger in the night sky. This occurs when the moon is a little closer to Earth, which happens because the moon's orbit is slightly elliptical, or oval.
If for some reason you can't see the eclipse in person, luckily there are several live streams available online so you can enjoy the Super Harvest Moon lunar eclipse.
Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so that Earth casts its shadow on our natural satellite. This lunar eclipse will be mild, as only the upper 8.7% of the Moon will be covered by the darkest part of Earth's shadow. Still, a lunar eclipse is a celestial spectacle worth seeing any time it occurs.
In the U.S. Eastern Time Zone, the eclipse will begin around 8:40 p.m. EDT on Sept. 17 and reach its peak around 10:44 p.m. EDT. Meanwhile, in Europe and Africa, the eclipse will be visible before dawn on Sept. 18.
In London, the eclipse will be most intense around 3:45am BST on 18 September.
Below are live streams of the Super Harvest Moon partial lunar eclipse. Watch them here on Space.com courtesy of the channels listed below:
Time and date
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TimeAndDate.com will present a live stream of the partial lunar eclipse beginning at 9 p.m. ET on Sept. 17 (0100 GMT on Sept. 18).
TimeAndDate offers a number of helpful eclipse resources, including interactive maps and schedules based on your location.
The Virtual Telescope Project
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Astronomer Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project in Manciano, Italy, will also present a livestream of the Super Harvest Moon lunar eclipse. The project's livestream will begin at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Sept. 17 (0030 GMT on Sept. 18) and will feature live images of the moon from telescopes during the eclipse stages.
Adler Planetarium
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Chicago's Adler Planetarium will also offer a livestream of the lunar eclipse beginning at 10 p.m. EDT or 9 p.m. CDT local time (0100 GMT on Sept. 18).
The Adler Planetarium livestream will feature astronomy educators offering live commentary on the eclipse, as well as helpful tips for viewing the event yourself.
Looking at the moon
Whether or not there's a lunar eclipse, the moon is always a beautiful sight when viewed up close. If you want to see craters and “seas” on the moon during lunar eclipses or any other time, be sure to check out our guides to the best telescopes and binoculars.
And if you want to try taking your own photos of the moon, we have a guide on how to photograph the moon, as well as lists of the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography.
Don't miss our tonight's night sky page and monthly skywatching calendar for more celestial events to enjoy!