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From which edge does Earth’s shadow usually begin covering the Moon during a lunar eclipse?
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Eclipse
Total solar eclipse as seen from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, August 21, 2017.
For an observer facing south, Earth’s shadow typically begins covering the Moon at its left edge. This occurs because the Moon moves around Earth from west to east.12
However, this orientation depends on the observer's location. If the Moon is positioned north of the observer—such as in certain parts of the Southern Hemisphere—the shadowing will begin at the opposite edge.12