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Ampex 600 Reel-to-Reel, circa 1958

On September 27, weather permitting, will be a wonderful evening of Moon watching. That night we’re due for a triple header—the Harvest Moon will also be a “Super Moon,” about as big as any Full Moon can ever appear. And, the super-sized lunar disk will be totally eclipsed during convenient evening hours for viewers in eastern states and Canada, and at times during the night across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and western Asia.  

The partial umbral phase, when we clearly see a “bite” gradually disappearing from the lunar disk, begins at 9:07 p.m. Eastern Time. Then the Moon will be a comfortable 26 degrees above the east-southeast horizon in New York City—that’s an altitude equal to about two and a half fist lengths seen at arm’s length. Totality starts at 10:11 p.m., mid eclipse is at 10:48, totality ends at 11:23, and the partial umbral phase concludes soon after midnight at 12:27 a.m. ET.