IN PICTURES. A partial eclipse of the “Super Harvest Moon” was observed tonight in France
Astronomers and poets have been served. There were not one but two notable astral phenomena to observe in the sky during the night of September 17-18, 2024. At a “Super Harvest Moon” In fact, a partial eclipse of our satellite was added.
A Super Moon near the equinox
The appearance of this Super Moon is linked to the fact that our satellite was last night at the point of its trajectory closest to the Earth (at perigee, scientists say), which made it appear larger than usual (by about 15%).
This Super Moon has been said “harvests” as is traditionally the case with phenomena of this type that come closest to the autumn equinox, which will take place on September 22.
The Moon in the Earth’s shadow
To this Super Moon was added a second phenomenon, rarer and more spectacular: a lunar eclipse.
As astronomer Éric Lagadec explained on X, this eclipse is due to the fact that the Moon was hidden from the Sun by the Earth.
It was this position that caused it to be partly in shadow on the night of September 17 to 18. The phenomenon, more partial than during other eclipses, was visible in France in the second part of the night, between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.