Clevelanders Witnessed Harvest Moon and Partial Lunar Eclipse, Captured in Stunning Local Photo
Updated: 4 hours ago
CLEVELAND, OHIO — Skywatchers in Northeast Ohio were treated to a rare celestial event on Tuesday night as September’s full “Harvest Moon” coincided with a partial lunar eclipse. The moon, known for its significance to farmers harvesting crops late into the evening, rose into the sky with Earth’s shadow partially obscuring it. Adding to the spectacle, Saturn was visible nearby, creating a memorable night for those who looked up.
Among the local highlights, Cleveland 13's Matt 'Gremi' Greminger captured a stunning photo of the Moon and Saturn in the same frame. He posted the image on Facebook, titling it “Moon Over Parma”; a nod to the popular Cleveland song written by Frank Yankovic in the early 1980s, which gained wider recognition when it was used as the theme song for the first season of The Drew Carey Show in 1995. Greminger, who took the photo from Parma, shared his excitement in the post, saying, “EASILY the best photo I’ve ever captured of the night sky!” The station shared his image, sparking admiration across social media for the breathtaking view.
The eclipse, visible across all U.S. states except Alaska, began with the penumbral phase at 8:41 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Tuesday, September 17, followed by the partial eclipse starting at 10:12 p.m. The greatest eclipse occurred at 10:44 p.m., with 8.4% of the moon slipping into Earth’s umbra. The entire event lasted just over four hours, concluding at 12:47 a.m. on Wednesday morning. “While it wasn’t a ‘blood moon,’ the partial eclipse offered a stunning view of Earth’s shadow crossing the moon,” local astronomy experts noted.
Cloud cover threatened to obscure the view for some Cleveland-area skywatchers. Meteorologists had predicted overcast skies during the eclipse, but many observers remained hopeful, recalling that similar forecasts in April for a total solar eclipse ended with clear skies just in time. While some did experience patchy cloud coverage, others were lucky enough to witness the full event, including Saturn’s bright presence beside the moon.
Tuesday’s lunar event also brought another celestial treat: it was the second of four supermoons in 2024. Supermoons occur when the moon is closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it appear about 17% larger and 30% brighter than usual. September’s supermoon was about 3,000 miles closer than the “blue” supermoon seen in August. Clevelanders can still catch two more supermoons later this year, with the next one set for October.
For many, the partial eclipse was the highlight of the evening. During this phase, a section of the moon appeared to have a “bite” taken out of it as Earth’s shadow covered 8.4% of its surface. The phenomenon gave the moon a faint reddish hue, though it wasn’t as vivid as the total lunar eclipses, often referred to as “blood moons.”
Despite the forecast, many skywatchers in Northeast Ohio managed to catch a glimpse of the lunar event. Observers recommended finding open areas away from city lights for the best viewing. "No matter the forecast, it’s always worth looking up. You never know when the clouds might part and offer you a stunning view," said one enthusiastic stargazer.
