Set your alarm clock: There’s a ‘wolf moon’ lunar eclipse happening this weekend

Stargazers across Australia are in for a treat this weekend, as the first full moon of the decade will occur on Saturday morning.

But what makes this moon so special is that it happens to coincide with a penumbral lunar eclipse, when the earth is almost positioned between the sun and moon, causing an outer shadow of the earth to cast upon the moon.

The spectacle won’t be visible from a number of places across the globe, including North America (where it will be daytime), but it’s thought that in the early hours of Saturday, January 11, Australia will have one of the best seats in the house, so to speak. Parts of Europe, Africa and Asia will also have a partial view of the eclipse.

Although not a total lunar eclipse — when the moon takes on a reddish glow, a penumbral lunar eclipse can still be an enjoyable experience, especially if you have a great view!

Here are the best times to watch in Australia:

NSW

Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast and Wollongong

• The eclipse begins at 4:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 5:52 am.

Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie 

• The eclipse begins at 4:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 5:53 am.

Albury and Wagga Wagga

• The eclipse begins at 4:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 6:03 am.

Dubbo

• The eclipse begins at 4:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 6:06 am.

Bourke

• The eclipse begins at 4:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 6:10 am.

Victoria

Melbourne and Geelong

• The eclipse begins at 4:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 6:06 am.

Bendigo, Ballarat, Shepparton and Mildura

• The eclipse begins at 4:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 6:10 am.

Wodonga

• The eclipse begins at 4:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 6:03 am.

Queensland

Brisbane

• The eclipse begins at 3:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 5:00 am.

Gold Coast

• The eclipse begins at 3:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 4:57 am.

Sunshine Coast

• The eclipse begins at 3:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 5:03 am.

Toowoomba 

• The eclipse begins at 3:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 5:05 am.

Rockhampton, Mackay, Bundaberg, Cairns and Townsville

• The eclipse begins at 3:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 5:10 am.

ACT

Canberra

• The eclipse begins at 4:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 5:57 am.

Tasmania

Hobart and Launceston

• The eclipse begins at 4:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 5:40 am.

South Australia

Adelaide and Mount Gambier

• The eclipse begins at 3:37 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 5:40 am.

Western Australia

Perth, Kalgoorlie and Broome

• The eclipse begins at 1:07 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 3:10 am.

Northern Territory

Darwin and Alice Springs

• The eclipse begins at 2:37 am on Saturday, January 11 with the maximum penumbral eclipse at 4:40 am.