Tuesday night is a partial lunar eclipse. What time is it? Will skies be clear in Indiana?

The moon is expected to take on a pumpkin-like shade of orange Tuesday night thanks to a partial lunar eclipse , which occurs when the moon passes through only part of Earth's shadow. September's full moon is also a harvest moon and the second of four back-to-back supermoons.

Here's what Hoosiers should know about the partial lunar eclipse happening soon.

When is the partial lunar eclipse?

A partial lunar eclipse will brighten, then darken evening skies on Sept. 17, 2024, according to NASA . The moon will appear full for roughly three days — beginning Monday through Thursday morning — but on Tuesday it will dim temporarily, taking on a reddish, or orange-like hue.

What time is September 2024's lunar eclipse?

The moon will start entering the Earth's partial shadow at 8:41 p.m. EDT, dimming slightly at the top edge until entering the full shadow at roughly 10:13 p.m., writes NASA. You should see the peak of the eclipse at 10:44 p.m. with only the top 8% of the moon in full shadow.

According to NASA, the moon will finish exiting the Earth's full shadow at 11:16 p.m. and the partial shadow on Wednesday morning at 12:47 a.m.

Yeah, but what about Central Indiana's weather? Will skies be clear?

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis is forecasting mostly clear skies Tuesday for Central Indiana. After a relatively warm day with highs of 86 F, meteorologists say temperatures should cool to a low of 61 with winds of 3-6 mph.

What is a partial lunar eclipse?

During a partial lunar eclipse, the moon passes through only part of the Earth's shadow, or umbra, entering into an imperfect alignment with the sun and Earth. As it does, the moon will appear to darken.

Why does the moon change color?

So why does it look red? According to NASA , that's because of how sunlight strikes the moon's surface after passing through our atmosphere.

Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange. The more dust or clouds in Earth's atmosphere during a lunar eclipse, the redder the moon appears.

What makes the September 2024 supermoon so 'super'?

The "super" in supermoon might have more to do with distance and less, some say, with how it appears to look in size.

The moon's orbit changes over time, writes NASA, because of the tug of gravity between it, the sun and Earth. When the moon is both full and its orbit is closest to Earth, roughly 222,000 miles away, we call it a "supermoon."

Supermoons can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year, according to NASA. Visually, that might not leave much of an impression, but the proximity of a supermoon can still affect the Earth, causing higher tides than normal.

How often do supermoons happen?

Supermoons happen three to four times a year. About 25% of all full moons are supermoons, while only 3% of full moons are considered blue moons .

What exactly is the Harvest Moon?

The full moon closest to autumnal equinox often takes the name, "Harvest Moon," a name derived from Native American, European and colonial sources .

Late summer to early fall is a time for harvesting corn in much of the United States. The full moon around this time often rises around sunset, giving farmers more time to gather their crops, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac .

Many Native American peoples traditionally referred to the full moons around August and September also as "corn moons. Other names for September's full moon from Native American tribes include Autumn Moon, Child Moon, Rutting Moon, and the Falling Leaves Moon.

Astronomical events happening in September 2024, per EarthSky

If you plan on observing the night sky this month, according to EarthSky , keep the following dates in mind for September 2024:

• Sept. 20 – If you've got a telescope, Neptune will be at its closest point to Earth overnight of September 20, 2024.
• Sept. 24 – 🌗 Last quarter moon. The moon should rise around midnight and set around 3:30 p.m. in Indiana.

When is the next full moon in October 2024?

The Hunter Moon should reach peak illumination by Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.

Full moons in 2024: Here's the date every full moon shines

John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com . Follow him on Twitter at JTuftsReports .

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Tuesday night is a partial lunar eclipse. What time is it? Will skies be clear in Indiana?