A lunar eclipse on March 25 could give solar eclipse watchers a taste of what's to come
Those anxious for the upcoming solar eclipse need not wait until April 8 for a celestial event.
Weather permitting, a faint lunar eclipse will be visible two weeks earlier, in the wee hours of March 25.
What is a penumbral lunar eclipse?
As with any lunar eclipse, the Earth will pass in front of the sun and cast its shadow on the moon, but instead of a fully darkened moon, most Americans will see a penumbral lunar event.
Penumbral is a fancy term for a lunar eclipse where the moon passes through Earth's outer shadow, which is also called the penumbral, according to NASA.
Who will see the lunar eclipse?
By NASA's estimates, the whole of the continental United States including all of Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and much of South America will have a chance to see the eclipse.
The rest of the world will either see the eclipse at moonset or moonrise or not at all.
When will the eclipse be visible?
The March 25 lunar event will start at about 12:53 a.m. before reaching its peak at 3:12 a.m. It ends at 5:32 a.m.
When will the next lunar eclipse be?
The next lunar eclipse will be a partial eclipse on Sept. 18, according to NASA. This one will be fully visible to the eastern half of the U.S.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Anxious for the solar eclipse? A lunar eclipse is sooner on March 25
