Sky viewers have a lot to look forward to in 2021, with three ‘supermoons,’ a blue moon, and two lunar eclipses all taking place during the New Year.
Astronomy experts say the three supermoons – full moons that appear to be slightly larger and brighter than a typical full moon due to their shorter orbits – will rise in the sky for consecutive months: April, May, and June.
The last time we saw a supermoon trifecta was in the first three months of 2019. After that, two supermoons appeared in 2020, one in March and one in April.
While 2020 featured a rare Halloween “blue moon” – the second of two full moons in the same calendar month – the blue moon that will appear in 2021 is a different type of blue moon.
The August 22 full moon is considered a seasonal blue moon, the third of four full moons that appear in the same season. In this case, it is the third full moon of summer. (The others are June 24, July 23 and Sept 20)
Three supermoons will be on tap in 2021. Pictured here is a supermoon rising over Kalamazoo, Michigan, on May 7, 2020.Joel Bissell
Total lunar eclipse in May
Some astronomy experts, including AccuWeather’s Brian Lada, have labeled the May lunar eclipse as “the best astronomical event of all of 2021”.
The total solar eclipse will occur on the morning of May 26, when Earth’s shadow blocks the sun’s sunlight from shining on the lunar surface, as all three celestial bodies are lined up in a straight line. During the eclipse, the moon’s color will darken and appear to have a rusty-red hue, so some celestial enthusiasts will call it a “blood moon.”
The full moon in May is normally referred to as the ‘flower moon’ because that is the time of year when many plants bloom. But this year it will yield a lot of nicknames, including the blood moon, super moon, or super blood moon.
Note: Due to the morning timing, only a portion of this lunar eclipse will be visible in the eastern United States and most parts of North America, according to AccuWeather and other experts.
“The total solar eclipse itself will only be visible from the High Plains, Rocky Mountains, and Pacific coast,” in the United States, AccuWeather said. “The eclipse will also be visible in parts of South America, Asia and East Asia.”
The moon often appears reddish orange during a lunar eclipse, which is why many celestial viewers call it a ‘blood moon’. This image was taken during a December 2010 lunar eclipse in Mercer County.SL
Partial lunar eclipse in November
While a second lunar eclipse in November 2021 will be a partial rather than a total, skywatchers in the eastern United States should get a really good view, AccuWeather says, assuming the sky is clear at the time.
You will also have to get up early to see it.
The partial lunar eclipse will occur during the early morning hours of November 19, when the moon will be officially in its full phase – shortly before 4 a.m. Eastern time.
“The November lunar eclipse will be very close to a total lunar eclipse, with only a fraction of the moon missing Earth’s dark inner shadow,” notes AccuWeather. “This may make it possible for the moon to appear equally rusty orange or red, similar to what happens during the height of a total solar eclipse.”
Dates, times, nicknames of this year’s full moons
If you want to mark your calendar for the best days to watch the moon in 2021, here’s a list of the dates and times of each full moon, along with their most common nicknames. (Special thanks to the Farmers’ Almanac, the Old Farmer’s Almanac, and TimeAndDate.com for the details.)
Note: If you cannot see the above chart on your screen, click here to see it.
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