The eclipse will occur on the evening of Friday, Oct. 18, when the moon passes through the edge of the Earth’s shadow and loses some of its brightness. The peak moment when the full moon is most covered will be just before 8 p.m. 

The actual eclipse begins at 5:48 p.m. and is finished by 9:52 p.m., according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac website. This full moon is called the pumpkin moon. 

This is not one of those memorable lunar eclipses where the moon falls into the darkest part of the Earth’s shadow, the umbra, and is only barely visible. There will be a lunar eclipse like that next year, late in the night of April 14. 

Mars and Regulus

The red planet Mars appears close to the bright star Regulus in our early morning sky. The sight is impressive as they are the two brightest objects in the eastern sky. Mars is red. Regulus, the principal star in the zodiacal constellation Leo, has a bluish white tint.

Mars is slowly brightening. It is 186 million miles away and slowly getting closer. Mars will be closest to the earth in April of next year. Between now and spring, Mars will gain in brightness and be easier to see. Next spring, Mars will be an evening planet, high and more conveniently visible in our sky.