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What it is : The moon reaching itsfirst - tail phase , as seen from theInternational Space Station(ISS )
When it was published : March 19 , 2024
A first quarter moon over Earth’s horizon taken from the International Space Station.
Where it is:270 miles ( 435 kilometers ) above the South Atlantic Ocean
Why it ’s so special : Themoon will be eclipsed by Earthin the early hours of March 25 . Then , it willtotally eclipse the sun on April 8 .
This photo ofthe moonwas taken as our planet reached its first - quarter phase , which pass about a week after a new moon and a week before a full moon . It was taken from the ISS as it soar nigh 270 miles ( 435 kilometre ) above the South Atlantic Ocean during a very special orbit of the synodic month .
Monday ( March 25 ) begin 2024 ’s first " occultation season , " the name for one of the two 35 - twenty-four hours periods each yr when lunar andsolar eclipsescan occur .
Related:7 safe means to view the partial phases of the full solar eclipse on April 8
In the other hours of March 25 , the moon will sprain full and be eclipsed by Earth . It wo n’t be a perfect alignment , though . If it were , it would be a totallunar eclipse , also known as a roue Moon . rather , it will be a penumbral lunar occultation , during which the moonshine will move only through Earth ’s outer phantom , its penumbra .
During the upshot — which will take place between 12:53 and 5:32 a.m. EDT , top out at 3:12 a.m. EDT , allot toTime and Date — the edge of Earth ’s shadow will be see moving across the lunar open .
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If that ’s a near - fille occultation , the one that comes at the end of the moon ’s current orbit will be anything but . On Monday , April 8 , the Modern moon — known as the New Pink Moon this month — will absolutely align with the Lord’s Day and Earth , totally eclipsing our star . The minute , calledsyzygy , will get a centralsolar eclipse .
All of North America will experience at least a fond solar occultation , while those within a 115 - mile - wide ( 185 kilometers)path of totality — a projection of the moonlight ’s dark — will know a entire solar eclipse on April 8 . Total solar occultation occur in the same situation twiceevery 366 years , on fair , according tonew research by NASA .
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