There will be a total of four eclipses during the year 2010, as well as a partial lunar eclipse at the end of 2009. The 2010 eclipses include two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses. The only total lunar eclipse in 2010 will be in December.
Lunar and Solar Eclipse Dates
The solar and lunar eclipse dates for 2010 and December 2009 are:
- December 31, 2009; Partial lunar eclipse
- January 15, 2010; Annular solar eclipse
- June 26, 2010; Partial lunar eclipse
- July 11, 2010; Total solar eclipse
- December 21, 2010; Total lunar eclipse
The eclipse dates and times reported here are in universal time (UT), also called Greenwich mean time. Here is a table for converting UT to North American time zones and a similar table for worldwide time zones.
December 2009 Partial Lunar Eclipse
The partial lunar eclipse on December 31, 2009 will be visible in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It will not be visible in North America. Only a very small portion of the Moon will enter the darkest part of Earth's shadow, the umbra. Hence this eclipse will be difficult to observe even where it is visible.
June 2010 Partial Lunar Eclipse
The partial lunar eclipse of June 26, 2010 will be most readily visible from the south Pacific. During greatest eclipse at 11:38 UT about half the Moon will be in Earth's umbra. The umbral portions of this partial lunar eclipse will last from 10:17 to 13:00 UT.
Observers in the Pacific or eastern Australia will be able to observe the entire eclipse. Observers in the western portions of the Americas will be able to observe portions of the eclipse just before the full Moon sets at dawn. While observers in eastern Asia will not be able to observe this eclipse until the Moon rises at sunset.
December 2010 Total Lunar Eclipse
The best eclipse for North American eclipse watchers in 2010 will be the total lunar eclipse on the early morning of December 21, 2010. The entire eclipse will be visible from all of North America and parts of South America. Portions of this eclipse will be visible when the Moon sets at dawn from parts of western Europe and Africa. Eclipse observers in western Asia and Australia will be able to see parts of this eclipse when the Moon rises at sunset.
Times for the eclipse are:
- Penumbral eclipse begins 5:29 UT, 0:29 EST
- Partial eclipse begins 6:33 UT, 1:33 EST
- Total eclipse begins 7:41 UT, 2:41 EST
- Greatest eclipse 8:17 UT, 3:17 EST
- Total eclipse ends 8:53 UT, 3:53 EST
- Partial eclipse ends 10:01 UT, 5:01 EST
- Penumbral eclipse ends 11:05 UT, 6:05 EST
The penumbral phases of the eclipse and the earliest and latest portions of the partial eclipse are not easily visible with the naked eye.
Many people fear that watching eclipses is unsafe and will blind observers. It is solar eclipses that can blind eclipse watchers. Watching lunar eclipses is completely safe and can in no way damage the observer's eyes.
Further Reading
The Astronomical Almanac published annually by the US Naval Observatory gives details for both solar and lunar eclipses each year.
Paul A. Heckert - I have a Ph.D. in astrophysics, over 30 years experience teaching physics and astronomy, and over 60 published research articles.
