North Texas

Look Up: 3 Things to Look for Friday Night

Friday night, you will be able to see the Snow Moon, a lunar eclipse and the New Year Comet.

When to Look Up
The penumbral lunar eclipse can be seen this evening as the moon is rising. The first 40 minutes of the eclipse may not be visible.

A penumbral eclipse is when the Earth passes between the moon and sun. The light from the sun is blocked, casting a shadow on the moon.

The moon will first enter the earth's shadow at 4:32 p.m., the eclipse peaks at 6:47 p.m. and ends at about 8:55 p.m. Look towards the eastern horizon to find the moon.

New Year Comet
After the eclipse, the New Year Comet will make its closest pass to earth since 2011. The comet will be visible early Saturday morning. A telescope or binoculars are recommended for viewing. The comet will have a greenish hue to it.

What's a Snow Moon?
Every month has a full moon and every moon has a nickname. Across the country, February is usually the snowiest month (including in North Texas). So, the Native Americans called the February full moon the "snow moon."

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