Partial Lunar Eclipse Sunday Night – WCCB Charlotte’s CW

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An eclipse arrives tonight in the Carolinas.

No, it’s not the solar eclipse that sweeps through the nation in April. It’s a partial lunar eclipse, known as a penumbral eclipse. This type of eclipse occurs when the Earth’s outer shadow, also called the penumbra, covers the Moon.

You may remember last year’s total lunar eclipse. This occurs when the Earth’s inner shadow – the umbra – completely covers the Moon. While total lunar eclipses bring awe-inspiring views of a red moon, tonight’s partial eclipse will simply darken it with minimal/no red shading.

If you’re heading out to watch the eclipse tonight, partly-to-mostly clear skies are expected. You’ll start to see the moon darken by 1 am before the most intense darkness arrives just after 3 am.

The upcoming solar eclipse occurs on April 8.