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Longest partial lunar eclipse of this century is almost here: How to watch

Earth’s shadow will cover most of the moon Nov. 18-19, and it will take its sweet timing doing it.

Celestial showtime is almost here. There’s a partial lunar eclipse on tap for Nov. 18-19 and it’s notable for how long it will last. The Earth’s shadow will largely block the sun’s light from reaching the moon, tinging our lunar neighbor with darkness.

NASA statistics on lunar eclipses from 2001 through 2100 show this month’s partial eclipse will be the longest of the century with a duration of over 3 hours and 28 minutes. Compare that with the longest total eclipse of the century, which happened in 2018 and stretched for nearly an hour and 43 minutes.

The Holcomb Observatory in Indiana shared a handy graphic showing what to expect from the eclipse, which will cover most of the moon. «This will also be the longest partial lunar eclipse in 580 years,» the observatory tweeted.

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What a partial eclipse looks like

Lunar eclipses don’t have the same dramatic appearance as a solar eclipse where it looks like someone is carving a black hole out of the side of the sun.

During a lunar eclipse, the moon darkens and sometimes takes on a reddish color. For a partial eclipse, Earth’s shadow doesn’t completely cover the moon. Partial eclipses are still fantastic experiences.

«Partial lunar eclipses might not be quite as spectacular as total lunar eclipses — where the moon is completely covered in Earth’s shadow – but they occur more frequently,» NASA said in a skywatching update. «And that just means more opportunities to witness little changes in our solar system that sometimes occur right before our eyes.»

When to watch the lunar eclipse

The eclipse will be visible to a large area of the globe across the evening of Nov. 18 and into Nov. 19. Exact viewing times will depend on your location, but at least some of the eclipse will be visible in most of the Americas, Australia, and in parts of Europe and Asia. The US will be in a great position to catch the eclipse action.

Head over to Timeanddate.com and search for your location to get your times. If you want to watch the full process, you could be in for a long night. For example, the partial-eclipse phase will kick off at 12:18 a.m. MT on Nov. 19 for me in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and reach its maximum at about 2:02 a.m. I’ll probably aim to set an alarm for closer to maximum rather than stand out in the cold for hours.

How to watch the lunar eclipse from anywhere

You have online options for following the moon action. These video feeds are a good fallback if you encounter cloudy weather, or if you just don’t want to stay up late or get up early to watch the eclipse in person.

The Virtual Telescope Project will go live with coverage of the eclipse at 11 p.m. PT on Nov. 18 (7 a.m. UTC on Nov. 19). VTP is collaborating with astrophotographers from around the world along with offering live commentary from astrophysicist Gianluca Masi.

Timeanddate.com has arranged for its own livestream starting at 11 p.m. PT on Nov. 18.

Eclipses aren’t everyday occurrences on Earth, and they’re not always easily visible. While some viewers might have to contend with middle-of-the-night scheduling for this month’s celestial event, it’s worth taking a moment to marvel at how the moon, the sun and our planet are connected as residents of this solar system.

Technologies

Why Smart Travelers Are Switching to eSIMs This Summer

Save 20% on Nomad eSIMs and use your phone all you want around the world without spending a fortune on roaming fees and data add-ons.

Higher prices are looming for just about everything, but they’re not stopping people from planning more summer travel than ever. 

Deloitte’s 2025 summer travel survey found that despite the gloomy economy, more Americans will travel this year than they did last year. And young people are especially ready for some self-care elsewhere: a survey by Allianz found that a whopping 70% of Americans under 35 are planning to take a vacation this summer.

If you’re one of the many people thirsty for a summer getaway, there’s a good chance you’re also looking to cut costs where you can. Maybe you’re opting for a cheaper mid-week flight rather than heading out on Friday, or heading somewhere off the beaten path instead of a tourist-packed metropolis.

Another smart way to trim your travel budget is to use an eSIM. You don’t have to pay pricey roaming or add-on data fees to look up local spots, post pics and check your email while you’re out of the country. Nomad eSIM, one of the most affordable options, gives you the data to do all that and more from over 200 countries. And right now you can get 20% off your first Nomad data plan with the code NOMCNET20.

What is an eSIM?

If you’ve ever upgraded your phone or switched carriers, you’re likely familiar with what a SIM card is: It’s that tiny chip in your phone that essentially connects it to your mobile carrier. 

A digital eSIM is different in that it’s downloaded from the web directly into your phone. You can activate it using an app and switch carriers without the fuss of having to swap out your physical SIM card. 

An eSIM can be a smart choice for travelers who want to use their phone while abroad. Because eSIMs are data-based, you’ll be able to send emails, browse the web, scroll your socials, stream videos and make data-based voice and video calls — all without having to pay the expensive roaming and data fees of your regular US-based carrier.

How a Nomad eSIM helps you save on international data

Nomad eSIM is different from the other eSIMs in that it offers an affordable plan lineup for every type of trip. Whether you’re going to Costa Rica for a week-long retreat or backpacking around Europe all summer, you can pick a plan that works for your specific needs — and budget. 

If you’re visiting one destination, Nomad has you covered with daily, weekly and monthly data plans ranging from 1GB to more than 20GB with coverage in over 200 countries. Travelers can also choose daily unlimited plans for a week, and there are local plans for single-country trips or regional plans for multi-destination travel. Current prices on plans include hotspots like Thailand ($0.18/GB) and Iceland ($1/GB).

Get data plans tailored to your travel needs — and budget

If you’re exploring more than one country, the Nomad Global plan has weekly and monthly plans ranging from 1GB to 5GB and coverage in up to 112 countries. While global in reach, Nomad has intentionally focused coverage on the most popular travel destinations, helping to keep global plan costs more affordable. A 1GB, one-week Global plan starts at just $12, ideal for the occasional check-ins with loved ones and social media posts. Or you can opt for a 3GB or a 5GB Global plan starting at $26 or $36 respectively, and the data is good for one month. 

eSIMs are great for frequent flyers and digital nomads, too

For backpackers, students abroad and digital nomads, the Nomad Global-EX plan offers handy six-month and year-long options that are good in up to 82 countries.

The highly affordable Global-EX offers a 10GB, six-month plan starting at just $30 and a 20GB, one-year plan starting at $50, plus the option to expand your data limit to 30GB or 50GB as needed. This plan eliminates the hassle of having to reactivate your eSIM for each trip, and it’s more affordable than other eSIM brands that offer similar data allowances for shorter durations.

And for those who prefer unlimited data, Nomad has recently expanded its offerings with 21 new unlimited plans. Perfect for travelers who don’t want to worry about running out of data or topping up, these plans start as low as $11 USD for 3 days of unlimited usage.

eSIMs provide instant, hassle-free connectivity

No matter which plan you choose, the Nomad eSIM is a snap to use. Simply download the app and activate the eSIM on your unlocked iOS or Android eSIM-compatible phone so you can get online the minute you land. There’s no physical SIM card, no contracts and no hassle.

Lock in a new Nomad plan today and score 20% off with the discount code NOMCNET20.

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Technologies

Get a Free Worldwide Ubigi eSIM Data Plan for Your Summer Travel

Forget pricey roaming fees or the hassle of getting a SIM card at the airport kiosk. Get fast and reliable mobile internet the moment you land.

Summer is the time to roam. According to Deloitte, more Americans plan to travel in 2025 than 2024, and a recent poll by Allianz found that 70% of Americans under 35 are planning a summer getaway. With prices rising worldwide, travelers are cutting costs wherever they can — including data, a must-have for local recommendations and easy navigation.

But roaming doesn’t have to mean roaming fees. One easy way to trim your travel budget is to opt for an eSIM plan like Ubigi, which works seamlessly in over 200 locations worldwide — including 5G in over 60 destinations — all without having to pay your carrier’s data fees or switch SIM cards in different countries. For a limited time, Ubigi is offering 500MB of data when you make a free account to try the service, as well as 10% off your first purchase.

An eSIM makes crossing borders easy

You’re probably familiar with a traditional SIM card — that tiny chip you can pop in and out of your phone to switch carriers. When traveling internationally, using a physical SIM means you have to stop and wait in line at airport kiosks or stores to buy a mobile plan and swap out your SIM cards. But with an eSIM, you can skip all that hassle: it loads directly onto your phone. Changing mobile carriers becomes as easy as a tap or a swipe, with no risk of losing your old SIM card.

A vacation should feel like a vacation, not a list of errands. But with an eSIM, it’s easy to get everything ready before you take off. Make sure your phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked, then choose your data plan and install your Ubigi eSIM before boarding your flight. Once you arrive, simply activate mobile data on your Ubigi line, and you’ll be all set to find your hotel and discover great local spots to eat.

An eSIM gives you more data for less

Ubigi offers affordable packages from 1GB to unlimited data, with seamless 5G and 4G coverage in over 200 locations across the world.  With Ubigi’s SmartStart feature, your eSIM data plan activates only when you arrive and connect to a cell tower at your destination, so there’s no risk of your plan starting before you leave. Plus, the app makes adding data on the go as easy as topping up a metro card, with no Wi-Fi or data credits required.

A travel eSIM provider like Ubigi eliminates any roaming surprises or charges. With Ubigi’s data-only service, you only need to focus on gigabytes, no SMS or voice fees to worry about. Their straightforward pricing makes managing your data simple and transparent.

Get 500MB of free data for your summer travels today

We all know summer passes in a blink. Create your free Ubigi account today and receive 500MB of free data, as well as 10% off your first purchase. After that, you’re all set to relax, no matter where the journey takes you.

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Technologies

Look Up on Friday Night and You Just Might See the Bootids Meteor Shower

Some folks already caught a sci-fi-level glimpse of it on Thursday, when a blazing meteor put a hole in a Georgia house.

Earth gets pelted by meteors all the time, but only a few showers are large enough to warrant names. Bootids is one such meteor shower, and it generally occurs in June every year as the Earth moves through the tail of the 7P/Pons-Winnecke comet. For 2025, the best night to catch a potential glimpse of Bootids is this Friday, June 27. 

It isn’t an easy meteor shower to spot. Its «radiant» — the point in the sky from which the meteor shower appears to originate — is in the constellation Boötes (hence the shower’s name), which means herdsman or ox-driver in ancient Greek. 

According to Stellarium’s sky map, Boötes will be in the western sky, close to the horizon, all Friday evening before dipping below the horizon at sunrise. This applies to the entire continental US, so there aren’t any special instructions based on location. 

The reason viewers will need a little luck to see it is twofold. For starters, the constellation is pretty low on the horizon, which will make it much harder to see from a well-lit city or suburb. 

Secondly, the American Meteor Association classifies Bootids as a Class III meteor shower. That means it may light up the sky with plenty of meteors or average less than one per day, even at its peak. We won’t know the strength of this year’s Bootids until Saturday after the peak has passed. 

One meteor hit a Georgia house

Despite its finicky nature, the shower did produce an incident here on Earth. 

On Thursday, a meteor entered Earth’s atmosphere and mostly burned up, but it did leave a golf-ball-size hole in a Georgia family’s home. Observers reported seeing the meteor as far away as Tennessee, Florida, and North Carolina. 

Here’s an excellent video — like something out of War of the Worlds — that shows the Georgia meteor. With Bootids at its peak, there’s an increased risk of such an event occurring again.

Tips for watching the Bootids meteor shower

Much like real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. City dwellers and suburbanites will have the hardest time spotting a shooting star, since the light pollution of larger populated areas can get in the way of seeing dimmer meteors. For context, the Perseids meteor shower can spit out upward of 100 meteors per hour, but in the city, you may see only one to two per hour, if any. 

The best tip is getting out of the city as far as you’re willing to go. The further out you go, the less light pollution will hinder your progress and the more chance you’ll have of catching sight of a meteor. If you can swing it, take a pair of binoculars. A telescope isn’t necessary and in fact will restrict your view of the open sky too much, which may cause you to miss meteors. 

Other than that, the key is patience. With inconsistent showers like Bootids, it may be a steady shower all night or bursts of activity. Finally, it’s best to temper expectations. You may go home not seeing anything at all, especially if the weather is not on your side.

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