Timeanddate printed this original article on January 4, 2024. Edits by EarthSky. Video by Deborah Byrd.
Largest eclipse miss of 2024
At new moon on January 11, 2024, the moon will “miss” the sun on our sky’s dome by a comparatively massive distance: 4.99 degrees. That’s concerning the width of three fingers held at arm’s size. And it’s round 10 occasions the width of the sun within the sky, making it the largest eclipse miss of the 12 months.
In consequence, it should even be the most-illuminated new moon of 2024. On the exact second of new moon – 11:57 UTC on January 11 – the moon might be 0.19% lit.
The lit portion of a crescent moon is, after all, a glimpse of the moon’s day aspect. So, strictly talking – as an alternative of its day fully turned away from Earth – the January 2024 new moon will seem as a vanishingly skinny crescent moon.
What makes an eclipse?
To have a solar eclipse, the moon have to be on the new phase. We typically say that new moon is when the moon passes between Earth and the sun. It’s when the moon is 0% lit as seen from Earth.
That is roughly what occurs … however not precisely. If the new moon handed precisely between Earth and the sun each month, it might produce a solar eclipse every time.
As a substitute, the moon usually passes just a little bit above or under the sun within the sky.
The 2024 lunar calendars are here! Makes a great New Years gift. Check ’em out here.
Why it’s an enormous eclipse miss
Solar eclipses occur when the sun, Earth and moon come into alignment at new moon.
This alignment doesn’t happen at each new moon, as a result of the moon’s orbit is tilted by about 5 levels. You’ll be able to see the lean within the not-to-scale illustration above.
At new moon in January 2024, the moon is near its farthest distance beneath the aircraft of Earth’s orbit. This imbalance produces the largest attainable eclipse miss.
Read more: Total solar eclipse in North America April 8, 2024
A fraction of a % of illumination
Likewise, the imperfect sun-moon-Earth alignment proven above is the explanation the illumination of the moon’s disk doesn’t fairly drop to zero.
The truth is, this occurs to some extent at most new moons. The next desk reveals the share of the lit moon, as seen from Earth, at each new moon in 2024. (That’s for those who might see the new moon within the glare of the sun from Earth!)
Two good alignments in 2024
There are two new moons within the above desk, on April 8 and October 2, when the moon’s illumination drops to 0.00%. It is because there’s a good alignment of the sun, moon and Earth on these dates … which additionally means there’s a solar eclipse.
The new moon of April 8 will produce a total eclipse throughout elements of Mexico, the USA and Canada. Six months later, the new moon of October 2 will produce an annular eclipse throughout Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and the southern tip of Chile and Argentina.
Find eclipses in your city, state, or country.
Watch eclipses LIVE on timeanddate.com.
Knowledgeable photographers would possibly catch January’s eclipse miss
It’s necessary to notice that – for many of us – the thread-like crescent of the new moon will invisible. Like most new moons, it’ll be totally misplaced within the dazzling glare of the sun.
However knowledgeable photographers would possibly attempt to catch it. Try the highest of this put up to see one other vanishingly skinny crescent moon, on the precise second of new moon. Grasp astrophotographer Thierry Legault caught it within the 12 months 2013.
WARNING: By no means look immediately on the sun, and by no means level a telescope or binoculars within the route of the sun. It might trigger critical and everlasting eye harm in seconds.
Backside line: January’s new moon might be an ultra-thin crescent moon resulting from its less-than-perfect alignment with the sun and Earth. It’ll even be the largest eclipse miss of the 12 months.
Read more: Total solar eclipse in North America April 8, 2024
