Partial Lunar Eclipse To Light Up Ohio Skies In November

OHIO — A partial lunar eclipse will delight Ohio stargazers in mid-November.

"A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon and lines up precisely so that it blocks the Sun’s light, which otherwise reflects off the Moon," the Farmers' Almanac said.

The celestial effect will be visible Nov. 18-Nov. 19, according to the Farmers' Almanac. Most of the show will take place predawn, with the eclipse ending prior to moonset.

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The lunar eclipse should last approximately 100 minutes. For Ohioans, the moon should enter mid-eclipse at 4:02 a.m. It will leave umbra at 5:45 a.m. and leave penumbra at 7 a.m.

Before the moon enters the "umbra" phase, stargazers should see a "dark smudge" on one portion of the moon. That "smudginess" should persist for approximately 20 minutes.

One of the wild cards for any eclipse, lunar or solar, is will the weather cooperate? It's too far out to yet offer an appropriately accurate forecast, but Patch will keep an eye on what's heading down the road.

For more, read the Farmers' Almanac story on the upcoming lunar eclipse.