Tonight, on this February 10th, there is supposed to be a full moon, a lunar eclipse, and a comet, all of which are supposed to be visible.
This month’s full moon is called the “Snow Moon.” This name came from Native American tradition, in which the full moons of each month bore different names. However, this full moon will not be alone tonight. Around 5:30 pm (EST), the penumbral lunar eclipse will begin. The penumbra of Earth’s shadow, the outermost part of a shadow, will cover the Moon, dimming the pale white surface into a darker grey. The eclipse is expected to last until 9:55 pm. Though it may not seem as spectacular as a total lunar eclipse, seeing the shadow of our planet cover the Moon may still be an interesting experience.
In addition to the full moon and lunar eclipse, there will also be a green comet passing by Earth later tonight. Comet 45p/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdušáková, also known as the New Year’s Comet, was discovered in 1948. It is supposed to as closest to the Earth as it was in 2011. Unlike the full moon, this comet is not visible to the naked eye, so a telescope or binoculars are necessary for viewing. Hopefully, tonight’s skies will be clear enough to see the three part spectacle. It is not likely that one can witness so much phenomena in the sky, but it is a rare sight that should not be missed.
For more on tonight:
Here’s How to Watch a Full Moon, Lunar Eclipse and Comet Light Up the Sky on Friday–TIME
Star System Explorer 