By Lauren Perkins, NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center March 22, 2024Lunar eclipses happen throughout the complete moon stage when Earth aligns exactly between the Moon and Sun, casting Earths shadow on the Moon. Credit: NASAAprils solar eclipse has actually stolen the headlines for lots of months now, and truly so with millions of Americans in the course of totality.But did you understand there is also a lunar eclipse before the solar eclipse?As the complete moon rises during the late evening of March 24 into the early morning hours of March 25, it will take a trip through the Earths penumbra, or the faint outer part of its shadow. This is called a penumbral eclipse.Lunar eclipses are classified into three types: total, where the Moon entirely gets in Earths umbra (the inner shadow), turning it a deep red; partial, where just part of the Moon passes through the umbra; and penumbral, where the Moon moves through just the penumbra (the outer shadow), resulting in a subtle dimming.When the moon passes through the Earths shadow, it causes the Moon to look very unusual for a brief period of time.
