Written by By �aill
When the moon passes across Earth’s shadow, it looks beautiful.
But on January 31, that same object is also making history.
The partial lunar eclipse will be visible across Australia, Hawaii, South America, Europe, Africa and parts of Asia.
Viewers in London, Paris, New York and Los Angeles will be able to see a full eclipse.
If you miss the event in your location, the totality — the moon falling fully under the Earth’s umbra, or shadow — is visible in a few hours.
Here’s what you need to know:
When will it start?
Evening — the moon begins its tilt to Earth’s edge, which will change over the course of a few hours.
Convenience-wise, astronomers say this is the best time to observe the eclipse since the moon will have just turned full.
Clear skies are expected across Asia, most of South America and over most of the Middle East, India and Africa.
For some parts of Europe, Russia and Australia, the sun will still be up.
You can track the eclipse via the Virtual Telescope Project
Where can I view it?
If you aren’t up for going out at night to observe the sun, you can watch the eclipse from the comfort of your home.
For people living in the western Pacific coast, Tasmania and New Zealand, you can watch the event on January 31.
For people living in New York and Los Angeles, the next chance to see it is February 7.
For the big city dwellers, NASA has a livestream available.
NASA has an eclipse story that will give you everything you need to know to watch the eclipse on January 31.
I have a telescope
If you want to watch the eclipse, but don’t have a sky-watching device, check out the Virtual Telescope Project.
The astrophotographer’s Planetarium and Observatory runs the virtual observatory that captures the heavens and assists in public outreach with astronomy programs.
How will it look?
The only way to see totality is with a telescope.
A partial eclipse is “more spectacular because it’s usually smoother,” astronomer David Waldman said.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the whole moon passes completely into the Earth’s shadow. However, total eclipses are more common.
A total lunar eclipse last about nine minutes, whereas a partial eclipse lasts a total of three and a half minutes.
How long will it last?
People will get to see the full lunar eclipse from January 31 to January 31, but it will not be as spectacular as the complete one.
Consecutive total lunar eclipses occur every two years. There are 14 total lunar eclipses per century. But they happen between once every 25 and 59 years, respectively.
Two of those are scheduled to occur in 2021 and 2036.
So, what will you learn?
Scientists say the total lunar eclipse is a great time to study Earth’s satellite.
It gives astronomers a chance to look at exactly where the Earth’s atmosphere is hitting the moon and see how it changes its appearance.
By observing the sun’s rays striking the moon, scientists can study what’s called the lunar poles.
The partial lunar eclipse gives astronomers a chance to examine the moon from a different angle.
“This is a time where we are able to see it in different ways, without distortion,” astronomer Allison Abich told CNN affiliate WGRZ in Buffalo, New York.
But they will also have a front row seat to the eclipses’ awesome show.
Abich said it’s a good time to study the moon’s thin layer of dust. It’s ground particles, which are expected to decrease dramatically after the partial lunar eclipse on January 31.
So, the lunar phase is beginning!