2020’s first eclipse season is here!
June and July will see two lunar eclipses and a ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse
There are three eclipses this summer; two very slight penumbral lunar eclipses either side of the main event, an annular solar eclipse on the date of the June 2020 solstice:
June 5, 2020: ‘Strawberry Moon Lunar Eclipse’
A penumbral lunar eclipse will see 57% of a “Strawberry Moon” cross into Earth’s outer shadow and visibly drop in brightness as seen from Asia, Africa, and Australia.
June 21, 2020: ‘Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse’ on the June solstice
From Africa, the Middle East, northern India, and southern China, a bright circle of sunlight will be visible around the Moon for around a minute during a rare 99.5% annular solar eclipse.
July 4/5, 2020: ‘Thunder Moon Lunar Eclipse’ on U.S. Independence Day
Another penumbral lunar eclipse as 35% of our satellite will enter Earth’s shadow as seen from South America, North America, and Africa. In the U.S. it happens on July 4—Independence Day.
Photo by Marek Okon on Unsplash
