A near-total eclipse of the moon is expected late this week, but unfavorable weather conditions may stymie Bay Area residents from viewing it.
The eclipse will begin at approximately 11:19 p.m. Thursday and, at its peak, should cover about 97% of the moon. During the celestial event, the Earth, Sun and moon align, with the Earth in the middle, causing the planet to cast a shadow on its moon.
Lasting 3 hours, 28 minutes and 23 seconds, the partial lunar eclipse, which coincides with a Beaver Moon, will be the longest partial lunar eclipse of the century, according to data from NASA. The longest total eclipse of the century occurred on July 27, 2018, lasting 1 hour and 42 minutes.
In the Bay Area, the eclipse should reach its full splendor shortly after 1 a.m. on Friday. The moon should be visible, weather permitting, anywhere the moon appears above the horizon.
Unfortunately for those in the Bay Area, weather conditions are expected to be highly unfavorable for sky watching Friday. The National Weather Service anticipates the arrival of a weak cold front across the area late Thursday into Friday, and most areas “will likely be under cloudy sky conditions,” according to weather service meteorologist Roger Gass.
“It doesn’t look favorable across any portion of the Bay Area to have clear skies Friday morning,” Gass said. “You may even see a little bit of light rain falling.”
If you miss the eclipse in person, it can also be viewed online via the Virtual Telescope Project 2.0 and Time and Date’s website.