The first lunar eclipse of the year will be visible on Thursday April 25, when a Pink Moon will dot the sky.
This week's lunar eclipse is a brief partial lunar eclipse, with only 1.47 percent of the moon's surface being visibly darkened. We haven't seen a lunar eclipse this shallow since May 3, 1958 and won't see one this shallow again until Sept. 28, 2034.
The lunar eclipse will not be visible in North America; however it can be seen from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, all the way down to southeast Asia and western Australia. Those residing between South America and Western Europe will be able to see the lunar eclipse at moonrise, while those from eastern Australia to the Far East will be able to catch it at moonset.
A total of five eclipses will take place this year, two annular and three lunar. The number of eclipses per year ranges between four and seven.
The moon will not actually appear pink on the night of the lunar eclipse and the title "Pink Moon" is said to derive from the spring flower herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox. The moon has also been called the "Full Fish Moon," as it occurred when certain fish started swimming upstream to spawn. Native Americans gave names to all of the full moons to keep track of the seasons. Other names include "Wolf Moon" (January), "Strawberry Moon" (June) and "Harvest Moon" (September). A "Snow Moon" was visible in the sky in February.
