WASHINGTON: Skywatchers are in for a striking celestial show Aug. 27-28, when the full moon will appear to turn deep red as Earth’s shadow sweeps across almost its entire face, leaving only a slim edge illuminated by sunlight.
The partial lunar eclipse will be visible from parts of North America, South America, Africa and Europe. About 93% of the moon’s diameter, or roughly 96% of its visible surface area, will fall within Earth’s darkest shadow, known as the umbra.
The eclipse will begin with the penumbral phase at 1:23 a.m. UTC on Aug. 28, or 9:23 p.m. EDT on Aug. 27. The partial umbral phase will begin at 2:33 a.m. UTC, or 10:33 p.m. EDT.
The eclipse will reach its maximum at 4:12 a.m. UTC on Aug. 28, or 12:12 a.m. EDT. At that point, most of the moon will be covered by Earth’s umbra.
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The shadowed portion of the moon may take on a reddish-orange glow as sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere and is bent toward the lunar surface. The effect is commonly known as a “Blood Moon.”
The umbral phase will end at 5:52 a.m. UTC, or 1:52 a.m. EDT, followed by the end of the penumbral phase at 7:02 a.m. UTC, or 3:02 a.m. EDT.
The eclipse will happen at the same moment for observers on Earth’s night side, but the local viewing time will vary. In California, the maximum eclipse will occur shortly after midnight during the night of Aug. 27-28. In the United Kingdom, it will occur shortly before sunrise on Aug. 28, with the moon low in the southwestern sky.
Skywatchers should check local eclipse timings before heading outside because the moon’s position and visibility will depend on their location.
Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is safe to view with the naked eye, so no special eye protection is required. Binoculars or a telescope can provide a closer look at Earth’s shadow moving across the moon.
With almost the entire lunar disk entering Earth’s darkest shadow, the event could give viewers a dramatic near-total eclipse experience, even though it is officially classified as a partial lunar eclipse.
