LUNAR ECLIPSE
Total lunar eclipse, December 20, 2029
The whole Moon passes into Earth’s umbra and turns a coppery red, often called a blood moon. Greatest eclipse is at 22:41 UTC (December 21 at 07:41 in Korea). Choose a city or use your location to see when each stage happens where you are.
Eclipse plan by location
All of totality is visible from New York.
Greatest eclipse Dec 20, 17:41 New York time · Moon about 12° high · east sky
The Moon rises at 16:25 during the eclipse. Find an open eastern horizon.
| Stage | Local time | Altitude · direction | Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penumbral phase begins | Dec 20 | -15° | Below horizon |
| Partial phase begins | -5° | Below horizon | |
| Totality begins | 7° · northeast | Visible | |
| Greatest eclipse | 12° · east | Visible | |
| Totality ends | 17° · east | Visible | |
| Partial phase ends | 31° · east | Visible | |
| Penumbral phase ends | 44° · east | Visible |
How a lunar eclipse unfolds
- Penumbral phase — the Moon enters Earth’s faint outer shadow. It dims only slightly, and most people do not notice.
- Partial phase — the dark umbra creeps across the Moon from one edge, as if a bite were taken out of it.
- Totality — the whole Moon is inside the umbra. Only sunlight bent and reddened by Earth’s atmosphere reaches it, so it glows copper.
An eclipse happens at the same instant for everyone who can see the Moon; only the local clock and the Moon’s height differ. It is safe to watch with the naked eye. Weather, hills and buildings are not included in these calculations.
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