Catch a partial lunar eclipse Tuesday night during September's supermoon

Get ready for a partial lunar eclipse and supermoon. The spectacle will be visible in clear skies across North and South America on Tuesday night.

Get ready for a partial lunar eclipse and supermoon. The spectacle will be visible in clear skies across North and South America on Tuesday night. (Fareed Khan, Associated Press)


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NEW YORK — Get ready for a partial lunar eclipse and supermoon.

The spectacle will be visible in clear skies across North and South America on Tuesday night and in Africa and Europe Wednesday morning.

A partial lunar eclipse happens when the Earth passes between the sun and moon, casting a shadow that darkens a sliver of the moon.

Since the moon will inch closer to Earth than usual, it'll be a supermoon.

NASA says the moon "will start entering the Earth's partial shadow" on Tuesday at 6:41 p.m. MDT.

"The slight dimming of the moon will be difficult to notice until the top edge of the moon starts entering the full shadow" at 8:13 p.m. MDT, according to the NASA website. The peak of the lunar eclipse will be at 8:44 p.m.

No special eye protection is needed to view a lunar eclipse. Viewers can watch with the naked eye or opt for telescopes and binoculars.

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Adithi Ramakrishnan

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