Lunar eclipse coming Sunday night, though it might be hard to see

INA – SOURCES

The celestial bodies are aligning for a show this weekend, though clouds over Portland might block it from view.

A penumbral lunar eclipse will take place late Sunday night in Monday morning, Nov. 29 to 30, according to NASA, gradually darkening the face of the moon for more than four hours. It will be the second lunar eclipse visible in Oregon this year, following a previous penumbral eclipse in July.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth’s shadow falls over the moon, and it can only happen at a full moon when then sun, Earth and moon all align. A penumbral eclipse is much more subtle than a total or even partial eclipse, as only the lighter outer shadow of the Earth (called the penumbra) darkens the moon.

During a penumbral lunar eclipse, the moon gradually grows a little darker until the maximum eclipse, after which it gradually lightens again. Unlike during a total or partial eclipse, the face of the moon won’t darken completely, and some people may not be able to notice a difference at all.

The eclipse is expected to begin Sunday at 11:32 p.m., reaching the maximum eclipse at 1:42 a.m. Saturday, and ending at 3:53 a.m., according to timeanddate.com