Lunar eclipse, comet to light up the sky Friday night

(Image credit: iStock)

published 10 February 2017

A full moon, a penumbral lunar eclipse, and a green comet will grace the nighttime sky Friday. The eclipse, during which February's full "snow moon" will be bathed in Earth's shadow, will start around 5:34 p.m. ET and is expected to peak at approximately 7:44 p.m. ET. Though the phenomenon is possible to see with the naked eye, a telescope or a livestream video will make the moon's shading starker.

Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova will become most visible around 10:30 p.m. ET. However, the comet, which will appear bluish-green in color as it makes one of its closest approaches to Earth in decades, will not be easy to see without a telescope, or access to a livestream. The comet will make its way through Earth's sky through the weekend.