A total lunar eclipse, where the full moon completely moves behind the earth and turns dusky-red, can be seen all over Japan on Wednesday night. This has not been seen in three years in the country.
The full moon on that day also coincides with a supermoon, where the moon is closest to the earth this year. Thus, if the sky is clear, people in Japan can enjoy quite the astronomical event.
A partial eclipse will begin at 6:44 p.m. on Wednesday, with a total eclipse of the moon falling completely into the earth's shadow occurring between 8:09 p.m. and 8:28 p.m., according to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ). In some regions, such as Hokkaido, the Tohoku region and western Japan, the moon will rise on the wane.
In a lunar eclipse, the sun, the earth and the moon all align, and the moon becomes on the wane as it enters earth's shadow. On the other hand, the moon, which orbits the earth elliptically, appears bigger when it makes its closest pass to the earth, called a supermoon. It is said these two events will combine to make Wednesday's moon blood red and larger than usual.
"A state of emergency has been placed in some areas, so we urge people to view the eclipse at home, if possible, and be careful not to make a crowd," said Hitoshi Yamaoka, head of NAOJ's public relations.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
