2024 has been an exciting year for astronomy lovers, with a series of eclipses capturing attention worldwide. The final celestial event of the year—a partial lunar eclipse—will be visible across Spain this September, offering a great opportunity for skywatchers.

A Year of Celestial Events

Spain has had mixed visibility for this year’s eclipses. The April solar eclipse was only visible from the far western Canary Islands and a small part of the mainland. But this time, the upcoming lunar eclipse will be visible across the entire country, making it a standout event for the year.

Understanding the Lunar Eclipse

The National Astronomical Observatory (OAN), part of the National Geographic Institute (IGN), explains that a lunar eclipse occurs when Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow that darkens the Moon. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon turns a reddish color, often called a ‘Blood Moon,’ due to the way Earth’s atmosphere bends sunlight. This time, though, we’re getting a partial lunar eclipse, where only a section of the Moon will enter Earth’s darkest shadow, known as the umbra.

When to Catch the Eclipse

Set your alarms for the early hours of September 18, 2024. The eclipse will start at 02:42 local time when the Moon enters the penumbra, the lighter part of Earth’s shadow. The partial eclipse begins at 04:14, reaches its peak at 04:45, and ends by 05:16. No special equipment is needed—just find a spot with a clear view of the sky.

What’s Next? Eclipses in 2025

While this is the last eclipse of 2024, four more are on the calendar for 2025. Each year usually features between four and seven eclipses, with at least two being solar and two lunar. One highlight for Spain in 2025 will be a partial solar eclipse visible from northwestern Africa, Europe, northern Russia, and Greenland. Additional lunar eclipses are set for March 14 and September 7, with another solar eclipse on September 21, visible from the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Antarctica.

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Image: Pexels/ Ajay Chaudhary